diff --git a/db/column_family.cc b/db/column_family.cc
index 02cb5035f..842ebf869 100644
--- a/db/column_family.cc
+++ b/db/column_family.cc
@@ -160,6 +160,10 @@ ColumnFamilyOptions SanitizeOptions(const ImmutableDBOptions& db_options,
   result.min_write_buffer_number_to_merge =
       std::min(result.min_write_buffer_number_to_merge,
                result.max_write_buffer_number - 1);
+  if (result.min_write_buffer_number_to_merge < 1) {
+    result.min_write_buffer_number_to_merge = 1;
+  }
+
   if (result.num_levels < 1) {
     result.num_levels = 1;
   }