Index: src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/regionserver/Store.java =================================================================== --- src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/regionserver/Store.java (revision 1500572) +++ src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/regionserver/Store.java (working copy) @@ -1589,8 +1589,9 @@ } } else if (compactSelection.getFilesToCompact().size() > this.maxFilesToCompact) { // all files included in this compaction, up to max - int pastMax = compactSelection.getFilesToCompact().size() - this.maxFilesToCompact; - compactSelection.getFilesToCompact().subList(0, pastMax).clear(); + compactSelection.getFilesToCompact() + .subList(this.maxFilesToCompact, compactSelection.getFilesToCompact().size()) + .clear(); } } return compactSelection;