diff --git a/tests/parser/features/external_contracts/test_external_contract_calls.py b/tests/parser/features/external_contracts/test_external_contract_calls.py
index 97763b7ae2..dce56014a8 100644
--- a/tests/parser/features/external_contracts/test_external_contract_calls.py
+++ b/tests/parser/features/external_contracts/test_external_contract_calls.py
@@ -67,14 +67,15 @@ def bar(arg1: address) -> int128:
     print("Successfully executed a complicated external contract call")
 
 
-def test_external_contract_calls_with_bytes(get_contract, get_contract_with_gas_estimation):
-    contract_1 = """
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("length", [3, 32, 33, 64])
+def test_external_contract_calls_with_bytes(get_contract, length):
+    contract_1 = f"""
 @external
-def array() -> bytes[3]:
+def array() -> bytes[{length}]:
     return b'dog'
     """
 
-    c = get_contract_with_gas_estimation(contract_1)
+    c = get_contract(contract_1)
 
     contract_2 = """
 interface Foo:
@@ -89,6 +90,113 @@ def get_array(arg1: address) -> bytes[3]:
     assert c2.get_array(c.address) == b"dog"
 
 
+def test_bytes_too_long(get_contract, assert_tx_failed):
+    contract_1 = """
+@external
+def array() -> bytes[4]:
+    return b'doge'
+    """
+
+    c = get_contract(contract_1)
+
+    contract_2 = """
+interface Foo:
+    def array() -> bytes[3]: view
+
+@external
+def get_array(arg1: address) -> bytes[3]:
+    return Foo(arg1).array()
+"""
+
+    c2 = get_contract(contract_2)
+    assert_tx_failed(lambda: c2.get_array(c.address))
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("a,b", [(3, 3), (4, 3), (3, 4), (32, 32), (33, 33), (64, 64)])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("actual", [3, 32, 64])
+def test_tuple_with_bytes(get_contract, assert_tx_failed, a, b, actual):
+    contract_1 = f"""
+@external
+def array() -> (bytes[{actual}], int128, bytes[{actual}]):
+    return b'dog', 255, b'cat'
+    """
+
+    c = get_contract(contract_1)
+
+    contract_2 = f"""
+interface Foo:
+    def array() -> (bytes[{a}], int128, bytes[{b}]): view
+
+@external
+def get_array(arg1: address) -> (bytes[{a}], int128, bytes[{b}]):
+    a: bytes[{a}] = b""
+    b: int128 = 0
+    c: bytes[{b}] = b""
+    a, b, c = Foo(arg1).array()
+    return a, b, c
+"""
+
+    c2 = get_contract(contract_2)
+    assert c.array() == [b"dog", 255, b"cat"]
+    assert c2.get_array(c.address) == [b"dog", 255, b"cat"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("a,b", [(18, 7), (18, 18), (19, 6), (64, 6), (7, 19)])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("c,d", [(19, 7), (64, 64)])
+def test_tuple_with_bytes_too_long(get_contract, assert_tx_failed, a, c, b, d):
+    contract_1 = f"""
+@external
+def array() -> (bytes[{c}], int128, bytes[{d}]):
+    return b'nineteen characters', 255, b'seven!!'
+    """
+
+    c = get_contract(contract_1)
+
+    contract_2 = f"""
+interface Foo:
+    def array() -> (bytes[{a}], int128, bytes[{b}]): view
+
+@external
+def get_array(arg1: address) -> (bytes[{a}], int128, bytes[{b}]):
+    a: bytes[{a}] = b""
+    b: int128 = 0
+    c: bytes[{b}] = b""
+    a, b, c = Foo(arg1).array()
+    return a, b, c
+"""
+
+    c2 = get_contract(contract_2)
+    assert c.array() == [b"nineteen characters", 255, b"seven!!"]
+    assert_tx_failed(lambda: c2.get_array(c.address))
+
+
+def test_tuple_with_bytes_too_long_two(get_contract, assert_tx_failed):
+    contract_1 = """
+@external
+def array() -> (bytes[30], int128, bytes[30]):
+    return b'nineteen characters', 255, b'seven!!'
+    """
+
+    c = get_contract(contract_1)
+
+    contract_2 = """
+interface Foo:
+    def array() -> (bytes[30], int128, bytes[3]): view
+
+@external
+def get_array(arg1: address) -> (bytes[30], int128, bytes[3]):
+    a: bytes[30] = b""
+    b: int128 = 0
+    c: bytes[3] = b""
+    a, b, c = Foo(arg1).array()
+    return a, b, c
+"""
+
+    c2 = get_contract(contract_2)
+    assert c.array() == [b"nineteen characters", 255, b"seven!!"]
+    assert_tx_failed(lambda: c2.get_array(c.address))
+
+
 def test_external_contract_call_state_change(get_contract):
     contract_1 = """
 lucky: public(int128)
@@ -664,61 +772,6 @@ def test_bad_code_struct_exc(assert_compile_failed, get_contract_with_gas_estima
     assert_compile_failed(lambda: get_contract_with_gas_estimation(bad_code), ArgumentException)
 
 
-def test_external_value_arg_without_return(w3, get_contract_with_gas_estimation):
-    contract_1 = """
-@payable
-@external
-def get_lucky():
-    pass
-
-@external
-def get_balance() -> uint256:
-    return self.balance
-"""
-
-    contract_2 = """
-interface Bar:
-    def get_lucky() -> int128: payable
-
-bar_contract: Bar
-
-@external
-def set_contract(contract_address: address):
-    self.bar_contract = Bar(contract_address)
-
-@payable
-@external
-def get_lucky(amount_to_send: uint256):
-    if amount_to_send != 0:
-        self.bar_contract.get_lucky(value=amount_to_send)
-    else: # send it all
-        self.bar_contract.get_lucky(value=msg.value)
-"""
-
-    c1 = get_contract_with_gas_estimation(contract_1)
-    c2 = get_contract_with_gas_estimation(contract_2)
-
-    assert c1.get_balance() == 0
-
-    c2.set_contract(c1.address, transact={})
-
-    # Send some eth
-    c2.get_lucky(0, transact={"value": 500})
-
-    # Contract 1 received money.
-    assert c1.get_balance() == 500
-    assert w3.eth.getBalance(c1.address) == 500
-    assert w3.eth.getBalance(c2.address) == 0
-
-    # Send subset of amount
-    c2.get_lucky(250, transact={"value": 500})
-
-    # Contract 1 received more money.
-    assert c1.get_balance() == 750
-    assert w3.eth.getBalance(c1.address) == 750
-    assert w3.eth.getBalance(c2.address) == 250
-
-
 def test_tuple_return_external_contract_call(get_contract):
     contract_1 = """
 @external
@@ -795,3 +848,87 @@ def get_array(arg1: address) -> int128[3]:
 
     c2 = get_contract(contract_2)
     assert c2.get_array(c.address) == [0, 0, 0]
+
+
+def test_returndatasize_too_short(get_contract, assert_tx_failed):
+    contract_1 = """
+@external
+def bar(a: int128) -> int128:
+    return a
+"""
+    contract_2 = """
+interface Bar:
+    def bar(a: int128) -> (int128, int128): view
+
+@external
+def foo(_addr: address):
+    Bar(_addr).bar(456)
+"""
+    c1 = get_contract(contract_1)
+    c2 = get_contract(contract_2)
+    assert_tx_failed(lambda: c2.foo(c1.address))
+
+
+def test_returndatasize_empty(get_contract, assert_tx_failed):
+    contract_1 = """
+@external
+def bar(a: int128):
+    pass
+"""
+    contract_2 = """
+interface Bar:
+    def bar(a: int128) -> int128: view
+
+@external
+def foo(_addr: address) -> int128:
+    return Bar(_addr).bar(456)
+"""
+    c1 = get_contract(contract_1)
+    c2 = get_contract(contract_2)
+    assert_tx_failed(lambda: c2.foo(c1.address))
+
+
+def test_returndatasize_too_long(get_contract, assert_tx_failed):
+    contract_1 = """
+@external
+def bar(a: int128) -> (int128, int128):
+    return a, 789
+"""
+    contract_2 = """
+interface Bar:
+    def bar(a: int128) -> int128: view
+
+@external
+def foo(_addr: address) -> int128:
+    return Bar(_addr).bar(456)
+"""
+    c1 = get_contract(contract_1)
+    c2 = get_contract(contract_2)
+
+    # excess return data does not raise
+    assert c2.foo(c1.address) == 456
+
+
+def test_no_returndata(get_contract, assert_tx_failed):
+    contract_1 = """
+@external
+def bar(a: int128) -> int128:
+    return a
+"""
+    contract_2 = """
+interface Bar:
+    def bar(a: int128) -> int128: view
+
+@external
+def foo(_addr: address, _addr2: address) -> int128:
+    x: int128 = Bar(_addr).bar(456)
+    # make two calls to confirm EVM behavior: RETURNDATA is always based on the last call
+    y: int128 = Bar(_addr2).bar(123)
+    return y
+
+"""
+    c1 = get_contract(contract_1)
+    c2 = get_contract(contract_2)
+
+    assert c2.foo(c1.address, c1.address) == 123
+    assert_tx_failed(lambda: c2.foo(c1.address, "0x1234567890123456789012345678901234567890"))
diff --git a/tests/parser/functions/test_interfaces.py b/tests/parser/functions/test_interfaces.py
index 3c0e0a34de..b2d0f226ea 100644
--- a/tests/parser/functions/test_interfaces.py
+++ b/tests/parser/functions/test_interfaces.py
@@ -227,8 +227,9 @@ def test_external_call_to_builtin_interface(w3, get_contract):
 balanceOf: public(HashMap[address, uint256])
 
 @external
-def transfer(to: address, _value: uint256):
+def transfer(to: address, _value: uint256) -> bool:
     self.balanceOf[to] += _value
+    return True
     """
 
     code = """
diff --git a/vyper/parser/external_call.py b/vyper/parser/external_call.py
index 3dd67cb892..0df7091fca 100644
--- a/vyper/parser/external_call.py
+++ b/vyper/parser/external_call.py
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
     ListType,
     TupleLike,
     get_size_of_type,
+    get_static_size_of_type,
+    has_dynamic_data,
 )
 
 
@@ -33,10 +35,11 @@ def external_call(node, context, interface_name, contract_address, pos, value=No
         is_external_call=True,
     )
     output_placeholder, output_size, returner = get_external_call_output(sig, context)
-    sub = [
-        "seq",
-        ["assert", ["extcodesize", contract_address]],
-    ]
+    sub = ["seq"]
+    if not output_size:
+        # if we do not expect return data, check that a contract exists at the target address
+        # we can omit this when we _do_ expect return data because we later check `returndatasize`
+        sub.append(["assert", ["extcodesize", contract_address]])
     if context.is_constant() and sig.mutability not in ("view", "pure"):
         # TODO this can probably go
         raise StateAccessViolation(
@@ -76,9 +79,52 @@ def external_call(node, context, interface_name, contract_address, pos, value=No
                 ],
             ]
         )
+    if output_size:
+        # when return data is expected, revert when the length of `returndatasize` is insufficient
+        output_type = sig.output_type
+        if not has_dynamic_data(output_type):
+            static_output_size = get_static_size_of_type(output_type) * 32
+            sub.append(["assert", ["gt", "returndatasize", static_output_size - 1]])
+        else:
+            if isinstance(output_type, ByteArrayLike):
+                types_list = (output_type,)
+            elif isinstance(output_type, TupleLike):
+                types_list = output_type.members
+            else:
+                raise
+
+            dynamic_checks = []
+            static_offset = output_placeholder
+            static_output_size = 0
+            for typ in types_list:
+                # ensure length of bytes does not exceed max allowable length for type
+                if isinstance(typ, ByteArrayLike):
+                    static_output_size += 32
+                    # do not perform this check on calls to a JSON interface - we don't know
+                    # for certain how long the expected data is
+                    if not sig.is_from_json:
+                        dynamic_checks.append(
+                            [
+                                "assert",
+                                [
+                                    "lt",
+                                    [
+                                        "mload",
+                                        ["add", ["mload", static_offset], output_placeholder],
+                                    ],
+                                    typ.maxlen + 1,
+                                ],
+                            ]
+                        )
+                static_offset += get_static_size_of_type(typ) * 32
+                static_output_size += get_static_size_of_type(typ) * 32
+
+            sub.append(["assert", ["gt", "returndatasize", static_output_size - 1]])
+            sub.extend(dynamic_checks)
+
     sub.extend(returner)
-    o = LLLnode.from_list(sub, typ=sig.output_type, location="memory", pos=getpos(node))
-    return o
+
+    return LLLnode.from_list(sub, typ=sig.output_type, location="memory", pos=getpos(node))
 
 
 def get_external_call_output(sig, context):
diff --git a/vyper/signatures/function_signature.py b/vyper/signatures/function_signature.py
index c5bbdf5f77..1bf13b6885 100644
--- a/vyper/signatures/function_signature.py
+++ b/vyper/signatures/function_signature.py
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ def __init__(
         sig,
         method_id,
         func_ast_code,
+        is_from_json,
     ):
         self.name = name
         self.args = args
@@ -79,6 +80,7 @@ def __init__(
         self.gas = None
         self.nonreentrant_key = nonreentrant_key
         self.func_ast_code = func_ast_code
+        self.is_from_json = is_from_json
         self.calculate_arg_totals()
 
     def __str__(self):
@@ -154,6 +156,7 @@ def from_definition(
         interface_def=False,
         constants=None,
         constant_override=False,
+        is_from_json=False,
     ):
         if not custom_structs:
             custom_structs = {}
@@ -285,7 +288,16 @@ def from_definition(
         # Take the first 4 bytes of the hash of the sig to get the method ID
         method_id = fourbytes_to_int(keccak256(bytes(sig, "utf-8"))[:4])
         return cls(
-            name, args, output_type, mutability, internal, nonreentrant_key, sig, method_id, code
+            name,
+            args,
+            output_type,
+            mutability,
+            internal,
+            nonreentrant_key,
+            sig,
+            method_id,
+            code,
+            is_from_json,
         )
 
     @iterable_cast(dict)
diff --git a/vyper/signatures/interface.py b/vyper/signatures/interface.py
index 44fb6ec755..47714b5aa4 100644
--- a/vyper/signatures/interface.py
+++ b/vyper/signatures/interface.py
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ def mk_full_signature_from_json(abi):
             ),
             custom_structs=dict(),
             constants=Constants(),
+            is_from_json=True,
         )
         sigs.append(sig)
     return sigs