diff --git a/server/tserver/src/main/java/org/apache/accumulo/tserver/tablet/Tablet.java b/server/tserver/src/main/java/org/apache/accumulo/tserver/tablet/Tablet.java
index cae47debefe..c5d3c9996d5 100644
--- a/server/tserver/src/main/java/org/apache/accumulo/tserver/tablet/Tablet.java
+++ b/server/tserver/src/main/java/org/apache/accumulo/tserver/tablet/Tablet.java
@@ -383,7 +383,6 @@ DataFileValue minorCompact(InMemoryMap memTable, ReferencedTabletFile tmpDatafil
     boolean failed = false;
     long start = System.currentTimeMillis();
     timer.incrementStatusMinor();
-
     long count = 0;
 
     String oldName = Thread.currentThread().getName();
@@ -393,7 +392,6 @@ DataFileValue minorCompact(InMemoryMap memTable, ReferencedTabletFile tmpDatafil
       Span span = TraceUtil.startSpan(this.getClass(), "minorCompact::write");
       try (Scope scope = span.makeCurrent()) {
         count = memTable.getNumEntries();
-
         MinorCompactor compactor = new MinorCompactor(tabletServer, this, memTable, tmpDatafile,
             mincReason, tableConfiguration);
         stats = compactor.call();
@@ -583,9 +581,10 @@ boolean initiateMinorCompaction(long flushId, MinorCompactionReason mincReason)
   private MinorCompactionTask createMinorCompactionTask(long flushId,
       MinorCompactionReason mincReason) {
     MinorCompactionTask mct;
+    long pauseLimit =
+        getContext().getTableConfiguration(extent.tableId()).getCount(Property.TABLE_FILE_PAUSE);
     long t1;
     long t2;
-
     StringBuilder logMessage = null;
 
     try {
@@ -593,7 +592,9 @@ private MinorCompactionTask createMinorCompactionTask(long flushId,
         t1 = System.currentTimeMillis();
 
         if (isClosing() || isClosed() || getTabletMemory().memoryReservedForMinC()
-            || getTabletMemory().getMemTable().getNumEntries() == 0 || updatingFlushID) {
+            || getTabletMemory().getMemTable().getNumEntries() == 0 || updatingFlushID
+            || (mincReason == MinorCompactionReason.SYSTEM
+                && getDatafiles().size() >= pauseLimit)) {
 
           logMessage = new StringBuilder();
 
@@ -607,6 +608,10 @@ private MinorCompactionTask createMinorCompactionTask(long flushId,
             logMessage.append(" tabletMemory.getMemTable().getNumEntries() "
                 + getTabletMemory().getMemTable().getNumEntries());
           }
+          if (mincReason == MinorCompactionReason.SYSTEM && getDatafiles().size() >= pauseLimit) {
+            logMessage.append(" fileCount " + getDatafiles().size());
+            logMessage.append(" fileCountPauseLimit " + pauseLimit);
+          }
           logMessage.append(" updatingFlushID " + updatingFlushID);
 
           return null;