diff --git a/db/db_test.cc b/db/db_test.cc
index 21ba736be..d2f455c15 100644
--- a/db/db_test.cc
+++ b/db/db_test.cc
@@ -12270,6 +12270,17 @@ TEST_F(DBTest, TestLogCleanup) {
   }
 }
 
+TEST_F(DBTest, EmptyCompactedDB) {
+  Options options;
+  options.max_open_files = -1;
+  options = CurrentOptions(options);
+  Close();
+  ASSERT_OK(ReadOnlyReopen(options));
+  Status s = Put("new", "value");
+  ASSERT_TRUE(s.IsNotSupported());
+  Close();
+}
+
 }  // namespace rocksdb
 
 int main(int argc, char** argv) {
diff --git a/utilities/compacted_db/compacted_db_impl.cc b/utilities/compacted_db/compacted_db_impl.cc
index 102e35728..55bcbca8a 100644
--- a/utilities/compacted_db/compacted_db_impl.cc
+++ b/utilities/compacted_db/compacted_db_impl.cc
@@ -107,6 +107,9 @@ Status CompactedDBImpl::Init(const Options& options) {
   version_ = cfd_->GetSuperVersion()->current;
   user_comparator_ = cfd_->user_comparator();
   auto* vstorage = version_->storage_info();
+  if (vstorage->num_non_empty_levels() == 0) {
+    return Status::NotSupported("no file exists");
+  }
   const LevelFilesBrief& l0 = vstorage->LevelFilesBrief(0);
   // L0 should not have files
   if (l0.num_files > 1) {