Index: src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/regionserver/Store.java =================================================================== --- src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/regionserver/Store.java (revision 1065506) +++ src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/regionserver/Store.java (working copy) @@ -1320,10 +1320,11 @@ this.lock.readLock().lock(); try { // sanity checks - if (!force) { - if (storeSize < this.desiredMaxFileSize || this.storefiles.isEmpty()) { + if (this.storefiles.isEmpty()) { return null; } + if (!force && storeSize < this.desiredMaxFileSize) { + return null; } if (this.region.getRegionInfo().isMetaRegion()) {