diff --git a/src/blockchain_db/lmdb/db_lmdb.cpp b/src/blockchain_db/lmdb/db_lmdb.cpp
index 291ac717d..e59bb62b4 100644
--- a/src/blockchain_db/lmdb/db_lmdb.cpp
+++ b/src/blockchain_db/lmdb/db_lmdb.cpp
@@ -737,7 +737,7 @@ estim:
   MDEBUG("estimated average block size for batch: " << avg_block_size);
 
   // bigger safety margin on smaller block sizes
-  if (batch_fudge_factor < 5000.0)
+  if (!batch_bytes && batch_fudge_factor < 5000.0)
     batch_fudge_factor = 5000.0;
   threshold_size = avg_block_size * db_expand_factor * batch_fudge_factor;
   return threshold_size;