diff --git a/examples/splinterdb_custom_ipv4_addr_sortcmp_example.c b/examples/splinterdb_custom_ipv4_addr_sortcmp_example.c
index 04e42b34..6a5113f0 100644
--- a/examples/splinterdb_custom_ipv4_addr_sortcmp_example.c
+++ b/examples/splinterdb_custom_ipv4_addr_sortcmp_example.c
@@ -345,7 +345,8 @@ do_iterate_from(splinterdb *spl_handle, const char *from_key)
    // Initialize start key if initial search key was provided.
    slice start_key =
       (from_key ? slice_create(strlen(from_key), from_key) : NULL_SLICE);
-   int rc = splinterdb_iterator_init(spl_handle, &it, start_key);
+   int rc = splinterdb_iterator_init(
+      spl_handle, &it, start_key, greater_than_or_equal);
 
    int i = 0;
 
diff --git a/examples/splinterdb_intro_example.c b/examples/splinterdb_intro_example.c
index 6438c0a5..c75cdec8 100644
--- a/examples/splinterdb_intro_example.c
+++ b/examples/splinterdb_intro_example.c
@@ -112,7 +112,8 @@ main()
           " returning keys in lexicographic sort order:\n");
 
    splinterdb_iterator *it = NULL;
-   rc = splinterdb_iterator_init(spl_handle, &it, NULL_SLICE);
+   rc                      = splinterdb_iterator_init(
+      spl_handle, &it, NULL_SLICE, greater_than_or_equal);
 
    int i = 0;
    for (; splinterdb_iterator_valid(it); splinterdb_iterator_next(it)) {
diff --git a/examples/splinterdb_iterators_example.c b/examples/splinterdb_iterators_example.c
index cfb767ec..1462c510 100644
--- a/examples/splinterdb_iterators_example.c
+++ b/examples/splinterdb_iterators_example.c
@@ -145,7 +145,8 @@ do_iterate_from(splinterdb *spl_handle, const char *from_key)
    // Initialize start key if initial search key was provided.
    slice start_key =
       (from_key ? slice_create(strlen(from_key), from_key) : NULL_SLICE);
-   int rc = splinterdb_iterator_init(spl_handle, &it, start_key);
+   int rc = splinterdb_iterator_init(
+      spl_handle, &it, start_key, greater_than_or_equal);
 
    int i = 0;
 
diff --git a/include/splinterdb/splinterdb.h b/include/splinterdb/splinterdb.h
index 03bee60d..f6fcb830 100644
--- a/include/splinterdb/splinterdb.h
+++ b/include/splinterdb/splinterdb.h
@@ -300,8 +300,8 @@ Known issue: a live iterator may block inserts and deletes from the same thread.
 Sample application code:
 
    splinterdb_iterator* it;
-   int rc = splinterdb_iterator_init(kvs, &it, NULL_SLICE);
-   if (rc != 0) { ... handle error ... }
+   int rc = splinterdb_iterator_init(kvs, &it, NULL_SLICE,
+greater_than_or_equal); if (rc != 0) { ... handle error ... }
 
    slice key, value;
 
@@ -321,13 +321,26 @@ Sample application code:
 
 typedef struct splinterdb_iterator splinterdb_iterator;
 
+// should the iterator start at the first key that is <, <=, >, or >= than the
+// start_key?
+typedef enum comparison {
+   less_than,
+   less_than_or_equal,
+   greater_than,
+   greater_than_or_equal,
+} comparison;
+
+
 // Initialize a new iterator, starting at the given key
 //
-// If start_key is NULL_SLICE, the iterator will start before the minimum key
+// If start_key is NULL_SLICE, the iterator will start at:
+// - greater_than_or_equal: the minimum key
+// - less_than_or_equal: the maximum key
 int
-splinterdb_iterator_init(splinterdb           *kvs,      // IN
-                         splinterdb_iterator **iter,     // OUT
-                         slice                 start_key // IN
+splinterdb_iterator_init(splinterdb           *kvs,       // IN
+                         splinterdb_iterator **iter,      // OUT
+                         slice                 start_key, // IN
+                         comparison            start_type // IN
 );
 
 // Deinitialize an iterator
diff --git a/src/iterator.h b/src/iterator.h
index 5c554605..60903787 100644
--- a/src/iterator.h
+++ b/src/iterator.h
@@ -3,19 +3,12 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
+#include "splinterdb/splinterdb.h"
 #include "data_internal.h"
 #include "vector.h"
 
 typedef struct iterator iterator;
 
-// for seek
-typedef enum comparison {
-   less_than,
-   less_than_or_equal,
-   greater_than,
-   greater_than_or_equal,
-} comparison;
-
 typedef void (*iterator_curr_fn)(iterator *itor, key *curr_key, message *msg);
 typedef bool32 (*iterator_bound_fn)(iterator *itor);
 typedef platform_status (*iterator_step_fn)(iterator *itor);
diff --git a/src/splinterdb.c b/src/splinterdb.c
index 8567187c..8b1c6ac9 100644
--- a/src/splinterdb.c
+++ b/src/splinterdb.c
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 
 #include "splinterdb/splinterdb.h"
 #include "clockcache.h"
+#include "data_internal.h"
 #include "rc_allocator.h"
 #include "core.h"
 #include "lookup_result.h"
@@ -608,9 +609,10 @@ struct splinterdb_iterator {
 };
 
 int
-splinterdb_iterator_init(splinterdb           *kvs,           // IN
-                         splinterdb_iterator **iter,          // OUT
-                         slice                 user_start_key // IN
+splinterdb_iterator_init(splinterdb           *kvs,            // IN
+                         splinterdb_iterator **iter,           // OUT
+                         slice                 user_start_key, // IN
+                         comparison            start_type      // IN
 )
 {
    splinterdb_iterator *it = TYPED_MALLOC(kvs->spl.heap_id, it);
@@ -624,7 +626,11 @@ splinterdb_iterator_init(splinterdb           *kvs,           // IN
    key                  start_key;
 
    if (slice_is_null(user_start_key)) {
-      start_key = NEGATIVE_INFINITY_KEY;
+      if (start_type <= less_than_or_equal) {
+         start_key = POSITIVE_INFINITY_KEY;
+      } else {
+         start_key = NEGATIVE_INFINITY_KEY;
+      }
    } else {
       start_key = key_create_from_slice(TRUE, user_start_key);
    }
@@ -634,7 +640,7 @@ splinterdb_iterator_init(splinterdb           *kvs,           // IN
                                                  NEGATIVE_INFINITY_KEY,
                                                  POSITIVE_INFINITY_KEY,
                                                  start_key,
-                                                 greater_than_or_equal,
+                                                 start_type,
                                                  UINT64_MAX);
    if (!SUCCESS(rc)) {
       platform_free(kvs->spl.heap_id, *iter);
diff --git a/tests/unit/splinterdb_quick_test.c b/tests/unit/splinterdb_quick_test.c
index a8703554..ba44eb41 100644
--- a/tests/unit/splinterdb_quick_test.c
+++ b/tests/unit/splinterdb_quick_test.c
@@ -453,7 +453,8 @@ CTEST2(splinterdb_quick, test_basic_iterator)
 
    splinterdb_iterator *it = NULL;
 
-   rc = splinterdb_iterator_init(data->kvsb, &it, NULL_SLICE);
+   rc = splinterdb_iterator_init(
+      data->kvsb, &it, NULL_SLICE, greater_than_or_equal);
    ASSERT_EQUAL(0, rc);
 
    for (; splinterdb_iterator_valid(it); splinterdb_iterator_next(it)) {
@@ -475,7 +476,8 @@ CTEST2(splinterdb_quick, test_basic_iterator)
 CTEST2(splinterdb_quick, test_empty_iterator)
 {
    splinterdb_iterator *it = NULL;
-   int rc = splinterdb_iterator_init(data->kvsb, &it, NULL_SLICE);
+   int                  rc = splinterdb_iterator_init(
+      data->kvsb, &it, NULL_SLICE, greater_than_or_equal);
    ASSERT_EQUAL(0, rc);
 
    ASSERT_FALSE(splinterdb_iterator_valid(it));
@@ -506,7 +508,8 @@ CTEST2(splinterdb_quick, test_splinterdb_iterator_with_startkey)
       // Initialize the i'th key
       snprintf(key, sizeof(key), key_fmt, ictr);
       slice start_key = slice_create(strlen(key), key);
-      rc              = splinterdb_iterator_init(data->kvsb, &it, start_key);
+      rc              = splinterdb_iterator_init(
+         data->kvsb, &it, start_key, greater_than_or_equal);
       ASSERT_EQUAL(0, rc);
 
       bool32 is_valid = splinterdb_iterator_valid(it);
@@ -540,7 +543,8 @@ CTEST2(splinterdb_quick, test_splinterdb_iterator_with_non_existent_startkey)
    char *keystring = "unknownKey";
 
    slice start_key = slice_create(strlen(keystring), keystring);
-   rc              = splinterdb_iterator_init(data->kvsb, &it, start_key);
+   rc              = splinterdb_iterator_init(
+      data->kvsb, &it, start_key, greater_than_or_equal);
 
    // Iterator should be invalid, as lookup key is non-existent.
    bool32 is_valid = splinterdb_iterator_valid(it);
@@ -553,7 +557,8 @@ CTEST2(splinterdb_quick, test_splinterdb_iterator_with_non_existent_startkey)
    // before 'key...', which is what key's format is.)
    keystring = "UnknownKey";
    start_key = slice_create(strlen(keystring), keystring);
-   rc        = splinterdb_iterator_init(data->kvsb, &it, start_key);
+   rc        = splinterdb_iterator_init(
+      data->kvsb, &it, start_key, greater_than_or_equal);
    ASSERT_EQUAL(0, rc);
 
    int ictr = 0;
@@ -606,7 +611,8 @@ CTEST2(splinterdb_quick,
 
    splinterdb_iterator *it        = NULL;
    slice                start_key = slice_create(strlen(key), key);
-   rc = splinterdb_iterator_init(data->kvsb, &it, start_key);
+   rc                             = splinterdb_iterator_init(
+      data->kvsb, &it, start_key, greater_than_or_equal);
    ASSERT_EQUAL(0, rc);
 
    bool32 is_valid = splinterdb_iterator_valid(it);
@@ -625,7 +631,8 @@ CTEST2(splinterdb_quick,
 
    snprintf(key, sizeof(key), key_fmt, kctr);
    start_key = slice_create(strlen(key), key);
-   rc        = splinterdb_iterator_init(data->kvsb, &it, start_key);
+   rc        = splinterdb_iterator_init(
+      data->kvsb, &it, start_key, greater_than_or_equal);
    ASSERT_EQUAL(0, rc);
 
    is_valid = splinterdb_iterator_valid(it);
@@ -643,7 +650,8 @@ CTEST2(splinterdb_quick,
    kctr = 5;
    snprintf(key, sizeof(key), key_fmt, kctr);
    start_key = slice_create(strlen(key), key);
-   rc        = splinterdb_iterator_init(data->kvsb, &it, start_key);
+   rc        = splinterdb_iterator_init(
+      data->kvsb, &it, start_key, greater_than_or_equal);
    ASSERT_EQUAL(0, rc);
 
    is_valid = splinterdb_iterator_valid(it);
@@ -661,7 +669,8 @@ CTEST2(splinterdb_quick,
    kctr = minkey + 3 * num_inserts;
    snprintf(key, sizeof(key), key_fmt, kctr);
    start_key = slice_create(strlen(key), key);
-   rc        = splinterdb_iterator_init(data->kvsb, &it, start_key);
+   rc        = splinterdb_iterator_init(
+      data->kvsb, &it, start_key, greater_than_or_equal);
    ASSERT_EQUAL(0, rc);
 
    is_valid = splinterdb_iterator_valid(it);
@@ -944,7 +953,8 @@ CTEST2(splinterdb_quick, test_iterator_custom_comparator)
    ASSERT_EQUAL(0, rc);
 
    splinterdb_iterator *it = NULL;
-   rc = splinterdb_iterator_init(data->kvsb, &it, NULL_SLICE);
+   rc                      = splinterdb_iterator_init(
+      data->kvsb, &it, NULL_SLICE, greater_than_or_equal);
    ASSERT_EQUAL(0, rc);
 
    int i = 0;
@@ -986,7 +996,8 @@ CTEST2(splinterdb_quick, test_iterator_init_bug)
 
    // Iterator init should find nothing when no keys were inserted, yet.
    splinterdb_iterator *it = NULL;
-   rc = splinterdb_iterator_init(data->kvsb, &it, NULL_SLICE);
+   rc                      = splinterdb_iterator_init(
+      data->kvsb, &it, NULL_SLICE, greater_than_or_equal);
    ASSERT_EQUAL(0, rc);
 
    bool32 iter_valid = splinterdb_iterator_valid(it);
@@ -1000,7 +1011,8 @@ CTEST2(splinterdb_quick, test_iterator_init_bug)
    ASSERT_EQUAL(0, rc);
 
    it = NULL;
-   rc = splinterdb_iterator_init(data->kvsb, &it, NULL_SLICE);
+   rc = splinterdb_iterator_init(
+      data->kvsb, &it, NULL_SLICE, greater_than_or_equal);
    ASSERT_EQUAL(0, rc);
 
    iter_valid = splinterdb_iterator_valid(it);
@@ -1200,7 +1212,7 @@ test_two_step_iterator(splinterdb *kvsb,
 {
    int                  rc;
    splinterdb_iterator *it = NULL;
-   rc                      = splinterdb_iterator_init(kvsb, &it, start_key);
+   rc = splinterdb_iterator_init(kvsb, &it, start_key, greater_than_or_equal);
    ASSERT_EQUAL(0, rc);
 
    for (int i = start_i; i < num_keys; i++) {
diff --git a/tests/unit/splinterdb_stress_test.c b/tests/unit/splinterdb_stress_test.c
index 08645c3d..89248bd3 100644
--- a/tests/unit/splinterdb_stress_test.c
+++ b/tests/unit/splinterdb_stress_test.c
@@ -163,7 +163,9 @@ CTEST2(splinterdb_stress, test_iterator_over_many_kvs)
    splinterdb_iterator *it = NULL;
    snprintf(key_str, sizeof(key_str), "key-%08x", inserts);
    slice start_key = slice_create(sizeof(key_str), key_str);
-   ASSERT_EQUAL(0, splinterdb_iterator_init(data->kvsb, &it, start_key));
+   ASSERT_EQUAL(0,
+                splinterdb_iterator_init(
+                   data->kvsb, &it, start_key, greater_than_or_equal));
 
    // assert that the iterator is in the state we expect
    ASSERT_FALSE(splinterdb_iterator_valid(it));
@@ -316,7 +318,8 @@ naive_range_delete(splinterdb *kvsb, slice start_key, uint32 count)
 
    splinterdb_iterator *it;
 
-   int rc = splinterdb_iterator_init(kvsb, &it, start_key);
+   int rc =
+      splinterdb_iterator_init(kvsb, &it, start_key, greater_than_or_equal);
    ASSERT_EQUAL(0, rc);
 
    slice key, value;