diff --git a/server/src/compact.rs b/server/src/compact.rs
index 9d9fc94e32..578fea3ecb 100644
--- a/server/src/compact.rs
+++ b/server/src/compact.rs
@@ -113,16 +113,25 @@ impl CompactWorker {
         }
     }
 
-    pub async fn send(&self, parts: &Vec<ObjectPart<PartData>>) {
-        if parts.len() > CONFIG.compact_parts_limit {
+    pub async fn try_send(&self, parts: &Vec<ObjectPart<PartData>>) -> bool {
+        if parts.len() >= CONFIG.compact_parts_limit {
             let task = CompactTask {
                 workspace: parts[0].data.workspace,
                 key: parts[0].data.key.clone(),
             };
+            self.send(task).await
+        } else {
+            false
+        }
+    }
 
-            let res = self.ingest_tx.send(task.clone()).await;
-            if let Err(err) = res {
+    pub async fn send(&self, task: CompactTask) -> bool {
+        let res = self.ingest_tx.send(task).await;
+        match res {
+            Ok(_) => true,
+            Err(err) => {
                 warn!(%err, "failed to schedule compact");
+                false
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/server/src/handlers.rs b/server/src/handlers.rs
index 43d86e4a90..207a58116e 100644
--- a/server/src/handlers.rs
+++ b/server/src/handlers.rs
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ pub async fn get(request: HttpRequest) -> HandlerResult<HttpResponse> {
                     }
                     None => {
                         let compact = request.app_data::<Data<CompactWorker>>().unwrap();
-                        compact.send(&parts).await;
+                        compact.try_send(&parts).await;
 
                         let stream = merge::stream(s3.clone(), parts).await?;
                         response.body(SizedStream::new(stream.content_length, stream.stream))