diff --git a/cmd/bee/cmd/split.go b/cmd/bee/cmd/split.go
index e6448b65f8a..d74650e066a 100644
--- a/cmd/bee/cmd/split.go
+++ b/cmd/bee/cmd/split.go
@@ -197,7 +197,8 @@ func splitChunks(cmd *cobra.Command) {
 			var chunksCount int64
 			go func() {
 				for chunk := range store.c {
-					err := writeChunkToFile(outputDir, chunk)
+					filePath := filepath.Join(outputDir, chunk.Address().String())
+					err := os.WriteFile(filePath, chunk.Data(), 0644)
 					if err != nil {
 						logger.Error(err, "write chunk")
 						cancel()
@@ -224,17 +225,3 @@ func splitChunks(cmd *cobra.Command) {
 
 	cmd.AddCommand(c)
 }
-
-func writeChunkToFile(outputDir string, chunk swarm.Chunk) error {
-	path := filepath.Join(outputDir, chunk.Address().String())
-	writer, err := os.OpenFile(path, os.O_CREATE|os.O_TRUNC|os.O_WRONLY, 0644)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("open output file: %w", err)
-	}
-	defer writer.Close()
-	_, err = writer.Write(chunk.Data())
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("write chunk: %w", err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
diff --git a/cmd/bee/cmd/split_test.go b/cmd/bee/cmd/split_test.go
index fd5b0762a51..c53bdfcd4fb 100644
--- a/cmd/bee/cmd/split_test.go
+++ b/cmd/bee/cmd/split_test.go
@@ -10,10 +10,14 @@ import (
 	"math/rand"
 	"os"
 	"path"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/ethersphere/bee/cmd/bee/cmd"
 	"github.com/ethersphere/bee/pkg/api"
+	"github.com/ethersphere/bee/pkg/cac"
+	"github.com/ethersphere/bee/pkg/soc"
+	"github.com/ethersphere/bee/pkg/swarm"
 )
 
 func TestDBSplitRefs(t *testing.T) {
@@ -103,4 +107,29 @@ func TestDBSplitChunks(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("want at least %d chunks", want)
 	}
 
+	for _, entry := range entries {
+		d, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, entry.Name()))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+
+		ch, err := cac.NewWithDataSpan(d)
+		if err != nil {
+			sch, err := soc.FromChunk(swarm.NewChunk(swarm.EmptyAddress, d))
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal("invalid cac/soc chunk", err)
+			}
+			ch, err = sch.Chunk()
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			if !soc.Valid(ch) {
+				t.Fatal("invalid soc chunk")
+			}
+		}
+
+		if ch.Address().String() != entry.Name() {
+			t.Fatal("expected chunk reference to equal file name")
+		}
+	}
 }