diff --git a/db/db_impl.cc b/db/db_impl.cc
index 153b605a8d..ebcbe1a4e4 100644
--- a/db/db_impl.cc
+++ b/db/db_impl.cc
@@ -282,6 +282,7 @@ DBImpl::DBImpl(const DBOptions& options, const std::string& dbname)
 #endif  // ROCKSDB_LITE
       event_logger_(db_options_.info_log.get()),
       bg_work_paused_(0),
+      bg_compaction_paused_(0),
       refitting_level_(false),
       opened_successfully_(false) {
   env_->GetAbsolutePath(dbname, &db_absolute_path_);
@@ -1889,10 +1890,11 @@ Status DBImpl::CompactFilesImpl(
 
 Status DBImpl::PauseBackgroundWork() {
   InstrumentedMutexLock guard_lock(&mutex_);
-  bg_work_paused_++;
+  bg_compaction_paused_++;
   while (bg_compaction_scheduled_ > 0 || bg_flush_scheduled_ > 0) {
     bg_cv_.Wait();
   }
+  bg_work_paused_++;
   return Status::OK();
 }
 
@@ -1902,7 +1904,11 @@ Status DBImpl::ContinueBackgroundWork() {
     return Status::InvalidArgument();
   }
   assert(bg_work_paused_ > 0);
+  assert(bg_compaction_paused_ > 0);
+  bg_compaction_paused_--;
   bg_work_paused_--;
+  // It's sufficient to check just bg_work_paused_ here since
+  // bg_work_paused_ is always no greater than bg_compaction_paused_
   if (bg_work_paused_ == 0) {
     MaybeScheduleFlushOrCompaction();
   }
@@ -2485,6 +2491,11 @@ void DBImpl::MaybeScheduleFlushOrCompaction() {
     }
   }
 
+  if (bg_compaction_paused_ > 0) {
+    // we paused the background compaction
+    return;
+  }
+
   if (HasExclusiveManualCompaction()) {
     // only manual compactions are allowed to run. don't schedule automatic
     // compactions
diff --git a/db/db_impl.h b/db/db_impl.h
index f068fe0840..b9efb775b0 100644
--- a/db/db_impl.h
+++ b/db/db_impl.h
@@ -844,9 +844,12 @@ class DBImpl : public DB {
   // Unified interface for logging events
   EventLogger event_logger_;
 
-  // A value of >0 temporarily disables scheduling of background work
+  // A value of > 0 temporarily disables scheduling of background work
   int bg_work_paused_;
 
+  // A value of > 0 temporarily disables scheduling of background compaction
+  int bg_compaction_paused_;
+
   // Guard against multiple concurrent refitting
   bool refitting_level_;