diff --git a/lib/storage/partition.go b/lib/storage/partition.go
index 676a0fd66b..f2984830bb 100644
--- a/lib/storage/partition.go
+++ b/lib/storage/partition.go
@@ -868,6 +868,11 @@ type freeSpaceEntry struct {
 }
 
 func (pt *partition) mergeBigParts(isFinal bool) error {
+	bigMergeConcurrencyLimitCh <- struct{}{}
+	defer func() {
+		<-bigMergeConcurrencyLimitCh
+	}()
+
 	maxRows := maxRowsByPath(pt.bigPartsPath)
 
 	pt.partsLock.Lock()
@@ -880,15 +885,18 @@ func (pt *partition) mergeBigParts(isFinal bool) error {
 
 	atomic.AddUint64(&pt.bigMergesCount, 1)
 	atomic.AddUint64(&pt.activeBigMerges, 1)
-	bigMergeConcurrencyLimitCh <- struct{}{}
 	err := pt.mergeParts(pws, pt.stopCh)
-	<-bigMergeConcurrencyLimitCh
 	atomic.AddUint64(&pt.activeBigMerges, ^uint64(0))
 
 	return err
 }
 
 func (pt *partition) mergeSmallParts(isFinal bool) error {
+	smallMergeConcurrencyLimitCh <- struct{}{}
+	defer func() {
+		<-smallMergeConcurrencyLimitCh
+	}()
+
 	maxRows := maxRowsByPath(pt.smallPartsPath)
 	if maxRows > maxRowsPerSmallPart() {
 		// The output part may go to big part,
@@ -909,9 +917,7 @@ func (pt *partition) mergeSmallParts(isFinal bool) error {
 
 	atomic.AddUint64(&pt.smallMergesCount, 1)
 	atomic.AddUint64(&pt.activeSmallMerges, 1)
-	smallMergeConcurrencyLimitCh <- struct{}{}
 	err := pt.mergeParts(pws, pt.stopCh)
-	<-smallMergeConcurrencyLimitCh
 	atomic.AddUint64(&pt.activeSmallMerges, ^uint64(0))
 
 	return err