diff --git a/lib/storage/partition.go b/lib/storage/partition.go
index 4b511847a..4369ec116 100644
--- a/lib/storage/partition.go
+++ b/lib/storage/partition.go
@@ -1025,24 +1025,47 @@ func (pt *partition) mergeBigParts(isFinal bool) error {
 }
 
 func (pt *partition) mergeSmallParts(isFinal bool) error {
-	maxRows := maxRowsByPath(pt.smallPartsPath)
-	if maxRows > maxRowsPerSmallPart() {
-		// The output part may go to big part,
-		// so make sure it has enough space.
-		maxBigPartRows := maxRowsByPath(pt.bigPartsPath)
-		if maxRows > maxBigPartRows {
-			maxRows = maxBigPartRows
-		}
+	// Try merging small parts to a big part at first.
+	maxBigPartRows := maxRowsByPath(pt.bigPartsPath)
+	pt.partsLock.Lock()
+	pws, needFreeSpace := getPartsToMerge(pt.smallParts, maxBigPartRows, isFinal)
+	pt.partsLock.Unlock()
+	atomicSetBool(&pt.bigMergeNeedFreeDiskSpace, needFreeSpace)
+
+	rowsCount := getRowsCount(pws)
+	if rowsCount > maxRowsPerSmallPart() {
+		// Merge small parts to a big part.
+		return pt.mergeParts(pws, pt.stopCh)
 	}
 
-	pt.partsLock.Lock()
-	pws, needFreeSpace := getPartsToMerge(pt.smallParts, maxRows, isFinal)
-	pt.partsLock.Unlock()
+	// Make sure that the output small part fits small parts storage.
+	maxSmallPartRows := maxRowsByPath(pt.smallPartsPath)
+	if rowsCount <= maxSmallPartRows {
+		// Merge small parts to a small part.
+		return pt.mergeParts(pws, pt.stopCh)
+	}
 
+	// The output small part doesn't fit small parts storage. Try merging small parts according to maxSmallPartRows limit.
+	pt.releasePartsToMerge(pws)
+	pt.partsLock.Lock()
+	pws, needFreeSpace = getPartsToMerge(pt.smallParts, maxSmallPartRows, isFinal)
+	pt.partsLock.Unlock()
 	atomicSetBool(&pt.smallMergeNeedFreeDiskSpace, needFreeSpace)
+
 	return pt.mergeParts(pws, pt.stopCh)
 }
 
+func (pt *partition) releasePartsToMerge(pws []*partWrapper) {
+	pt.partsLock.Lock()
+	for _, pw := range pws {
+		if !pw.isInMerge {
+			logger.Panicf("BUG: missing isInMerge flag on the part %q", pw.p.path)
+		}
+		pw.isInMerge = false
+	}
+	pt.partsLock.Unlock()
+}
+
 var errNothingToMerge = fmt.Errorf("nothing to merge")
 
 func atomicSetBool(p *uint64, b bool) {
@@ -1063,18 +1086,7 @@ func (pt *partition) mergeParts(pws []*partWrapper, stopCh <-chan struct{}) erro
 		// Nothing to merge.
 		return errNothingToMerge
 	}
-
-	defer func() {
-		// Remove isInMerge flag from pws.
-		pt.partsLock.Lock()
-		for _, pw := range pws {
-			if !pw.isInMerge {
-				logger.Panicf("BUG: missing isInMerge flag on the part %q", pw.p.path)
-			}
-			pw.isInMerge = false
-		}
-		pt.partsLock.Unlock()
-	}()
+	defer pt.releasePartsToMerge(pws)
 
 	startTime := time.Now()
 
@@ -1365,22 +1377,19 @@ func appendPartsToMerge(dst, src []*partWrapper, maxPartsToMerge int, maxRows ui
 				// since this results in unbalanced merges.
 				continue
 			}
-			rowsSum := uint64(0)
-			for _, pw := range a {
-				rowsSum += pw.p.ph.RowsCount
-			}
-			if rowsSum < 1e6 && len(a) < maxPartsToMerge {
+			rowsCount := getRowsCount(a)
+			if rowsCount < 1e6 && len(a) < maxPartsToMerge {
 				// Do not merge parts with too small number of rows if the number of source parts
 				// isn't equal to maxPartsToMerge. This should reduce CPU usage and disk IO usage
 				// for small parts merge.
 				continue
 			}
-			if rowsSum > maxRows {
+			if rowsCount > maxRows {
 				// There is no need in verifying remaining parts with higher number of rows
 				needFreeSpace = true
 				break
 			}
-			m := float64(rowsSum) / float64(a[len(a)-1].p.ph.RowsCount)
+			m := float64(rowsCount) / float64(a[len(a)-1].p.ph.RowsCount)
 			if m < maxM {
 				continue
 			}
@@ -1400,6 +1409,14 @@ func appendPartsToMerge(dst, src []*partWrapper, maxPartsToMerge int, maxRows ui
 	return append(dst, pws...), needFreeSpace
 }
 
+func getRowsCount(pws []*partWrapper) uint64 {
+	n := uint64(0)
+	for _, pw := range pws {
+		n += pw.p.ph.RowsCount
+	}
+	return n
+}
+
 func openParts(pathPrefix1, pathPrefix2, path string) ([]*partWrapper, error) {
 	// The path can be missing after restoring from backup, so create it if needed.
 	if err := fs.MkdirAllIfNotExist(path); err != nil {