diff --git a/src/os/bluestore/BlueFS.cc b/src/os/bluestore/BlueFS.cc
index b94ae7651d4..24d4a4ef7dd 100644
--- a/src/os/bluestore/BlueFS.cc
+++ b/src/os/bluestore/BlueFS.cc
@@ -1187,6 +1187,11 @@ void BlueFS::_compact_log_async(std::unique_lock<std::mutex>& l)
   assert(!new_log);
   assert(!new_log_writer);
 
+  // create a new log [writer] so that we know compaction is in progress
+  // (see _should_compact_log)
+  new_log = new File;
+  new_log->fnode.ino = 0;   // so that _flush_range won't try to log the fnode
+
   // 1. allocate new log space and jump to it.
   old_log_jump_to = log_file->fnode.get_allocated();
   uint64_t need = old_log_jump_to + cct->_conf->bluefs_max_log_runway;
@@ -1228,9 +1233,7 @@ void BlueFS::_compact_log_async(std::unique_lock<std::mutex>& l)
   dout(10) << __func__ << " new_log_jump_to 0x" << std::hex << new_log_jump_to
 	   << std::dec << dendl;
 
-  // create a new log [writer]
-  new_log = new File;
-  new_log->fnode.ino = 0;   // so that _flush_range won't try to log the fnode
+  // allocate
   int r = _allocate(BlueFS::BDEV_DB, new_log_jump_to,
                     &new_log->fnode.extents);
   assert(r == 0);