diff --git a/pageserver/compaction/src/compact_tiered.rs b/pageserver/compaction/src/compact_tiered.rs
index 12882c9d59..20e9cf2196 100644
--- a/pageserver/compaction/src/compact_tiered.rs
+++ b/pageserver/compaction/src/compact_tiered.rs
@@ -106,7 +106,13 @@ pub async fn compact_tiered<E: CompactionJobExecutor>(
             ctx,
         )
         .await?;
-        if target_file_size == u64::MAX {
+        if current_level_target_height == u64::MAX {
+            // our target height includes all possible lsns
+            info!(
+                level = current_level_no,
+                depth = depth,
+                "compaction loop reached max current_level_target_height"
+            );
             break;
         }
         current_level_no += 1;