diff --git a/neo/rawio/spikeglxrawio.py b/neo/rawio/spikeglxrawio.py
index ae9a45e9b..7aa9fe2a4 100644
--- a/neo/rawio/spikeglxrawio.py
+++ b/neo/rawio/spikeglxrawio.py
@@ -133,17 +133,12 @@ def _parse_header(self):
         stream_names = sorted(list(srates.keys()), key=lambda e: srates[e])[::-1]
         nb_segment = np.unique([info["seg_index"] for info in self.signals_info_list]).size
 
-        self.signals_info_dict = {}
+        self.signals_info_dict = _build_signals_info_dict(self.signals_info_list)
+
         # one unique block
         self._buffer_descriptions = {0: {}}
         self._stream_buffer_slice = {}
-        for info in self.signals_info_list:
-            seg_index, stream_name = info["seg_index"], info["stream_name"]
-            key = (seg_index, stream_name)
-            if key in self.signals_info_dict:
-                raise KeyError(f"key {key} is already in the signals_info_dict")
-            self.signals_info_dict[key] = info
-
+        for (seg_index, stream_name), info in self.signals_info_dict.items():
             buffer_id = stream_name
             block_index = 0
 
@@ -412,6 +407,41 @@ def scan_files(dirname):
     return info_list
 
 
+def _build_signals_info_dict(info_list):
+    """
+    Re-index a flat list of info dicts into a dict keyed by (seg_index, stream_name).
+
+    Requires each info dict to already have "seg_index", "stream_name", and "meta_file",
+    populated by scan_files + _add_segment_order.
+
+    Raises ValueError on duplicate keys, naming both colliding .meta paths and
+    listing common causes so users can self-diagnose.
+    """
+    signals_info_dict = {}
+    for info in info_list:
+        key = (info["seg_index"], info["stream_name"])
+        if key in signals_info_dict:
+            existing = signals_info_dict[key]
+            seg_index, stream_name = key
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"Two SpikeGLX file pairs resolve to the same stream "
+                f"'{stream_name}' in segment {seg_index}:\n"
+                f"  1) {existing['meta_file']}\n"
+                f"  2) {info['meta_file']}\n"
+                f"This can happen if:\n"
+                f"  - Files were renamed on disk. Stream names come from the "
+                f"'fileName' field inside the .meta, not the filename on disk.\n"
+                f"  - Recordings from different sessions are in the same folder "
+                f"with the same gate/trigger numbers.\n"
+                f"  - Duplicate copies exist in subfolders (the reader scans "
+                f"recursively).\n"
+                f"  - A third-party tool rewrote the .meta file with an incorrect "
+                f"'fileName' (for example, LF meta pointing to the AP binary)."
+            )
+        signals_info_dict[key] = info
+    return signals_info_dict
+
+
 def _add_segment_order(info_list):
     """
     Uses gate and trigger numbers to construct a segment index (`seg_index`) for each signal in `info_list`.
diff --git a/neo/test/rawiotest/test_spikeglxrawio.py b/neo/test/rawiotest/test_spikeglxrawio.py
index 409b324d3..7f2b891a6 100644
--- a/neo/test/rawiotest/test_spikeglxrawio.py
+++ b/neo/test/rawiotest/test_spikeglxrawio.py
@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@
 
 import unittest
 
-from neo.rawio.spikeglxrawio import SpikeGLXRawIO
+import pytest
+
+from neo.rawio.spikeglxrawio import SpikeGLXRawIO, _build_signals_info_dict
 from neo.test.rawiotest.common_rawio_test import BaseTestRawIO
 import numpy as np
 
@@ -197,5 +199,29 @@ def test_t_start_reading(self):
                 )
 
 
+def test_build_signals_info_dict_collision_raises_value_error():
+    info_a = {"seg_index": 0, "stream_name": "imec0.ap", "meta_file": "/x/first.meta"}
+    info_b = {"seg_index": 0, "stream_name": "imec0.ap", "meta_file": "/x/second.meta"}
+
+    expected_message = (
+        "Two SpikeGLX file pairs resolve to the same stream 'imec0.ap' in segment 0:\n"
+        "  1) /x/first.meta\n"
+        "  2) /x/second.meta\n"
+        "This can happen if:\n"
+        "  - Files were renamed on disk. Stream names come from the 'fileName' field "
+        "inside the .meta, not the filename on disk.\n"
+        "  - Recordings from different sessions are in the same folder with the same "
+        "gate/trigger numbers.\n"
+        "  - Duplicate copies exist in subfolders (the reader scans recursively).\n"
+        "  - A third-party tool rewrote the .meta file with an incorrect 'fileName' "
+        "(for example, LF meta pointing to the AP binary)."
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError) as exc_info:
+        _build_signals_info_dict([info_a, info_b])
+
+    assert str(exc_info.value) == expected_message
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()