diff --git a/docs/CHANGELOG.md b/docs/CHANGELOG.md
index 01661df060..8cf17d4183 100644
--- a/docs/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/docs/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ The following tip changes can be tested by building VictoriaMetrics components f
 
 * SECURITY: upgrade base docker image (alpine) from 3.17.2 to 3.17.3. See [alpine 3.17.3 release notes](https://alpinelinux.org/posts/Alpine-3.17.3-released.html).
 
+* BUGFIX: prevent unexpected merges on start-up when `-storage.minFreeDiskSpaceBytes` is set. See [the issue](https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics/issues/4023).
 * BUGFIX: verify response code when fetching configuration files via HTTP. See [this issue](https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics/issues/4034).
 
 ## [v1.79.11](https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics/releases/tag/v1.79.11)
diff --git a/lib/storage/storage.go b/lib/storage/storage.go
index 3e9a2753c4..2043d7166f 100644
--- a/lib/storage/storage.go
+++ b/lib/storage/storage.go
@@ -259,6 +259,10 @@ func OpenStorage(path string, retentionMsecs int64, maxHourlySeries, maxDailySer
 	s.setDeletedMetricIDs(dmisCurr)
 	s.updateDeletedMetricIDs(dmisPrev)
 
+	// check for free disk space before opening the table
+	// to prevent unexpected part merges. See https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics/issues/4023
+	s.startFreeDiskSpaceWatcher()
+
 	// Load data
 	tablePath := path + "/data"
 	tb, err := openTable(tablePath, s.getDeletedMetricIDs, retentionMsecs, &s.isReadOnly)
@@ -271,7 +275,6 @@ func OpenStorage(path string, retentionMsecs int64, maxHourlySeries, maxDailySer
 	s.startCurrHourMetricIDsUpdater()
 	s.startNextDayMetricIDsUpdater()
 	s.startRetentionWatcher()
-	s.startFreeDiskSpaceWatcher()
 
 	return s, nil
 }