diff --git a/be/src/olap/tablet.cpp b/be/src/olap/tablet.cpp
index f159dc6f576e26..0063be19f9c1a3 100644
--- a/be/src/olap/tablet.cpp
+++ b/be/src/olap/tablet.cpp
@@ -1715,7 +1715,8 @@ Status Tablet::prepare_compaction_and_calculate_permits(
 
     // Time series policy does not rely on permits, it uses goal size to control memory
     if (tablet->tablet_meta()->compaction_policy() == CUMULATIVE_TIME_SERIES_POLICY) {
-        permits = 0;
+        // permits = 0 means that prepare_compaction failed
+        permits = 1;
     } else {
         permits = compaction->get_compaction_permits();
     }