diff --git a/HISTORY.md b/HISTORY.md
index dc4b320a6..97fa172d5 100644
--- a/HISTORY.md
+++ b/HISTORY.md
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 * Fixed an issue where the `READ_NUM_MERGE_OPERANDS` ticker was not updated when the base key-value or tombstone was read from an SST file.
 * Fixed a memory safety bug when using a SecondaryCache with `block_cache_compressed`. `block_cache_compressed` no longer attempts to use SecondaryCache features.
 * Fixed a regression in scan for async_io. During seek, valid buffers were getting cleared causing a regression.
+* Tiered Storage: fixed excessive keys written to penultimate level in non-debug builds.
 
 ### New Features
 * Add basic support for user-defined timestamp to Merge (#10819).
diff --git a/db/compaction/compaction_iterator.cc b/db/compaction/compaction_iterator.cc
index 788c8876c..9f54f7813 100644
--- a/db/compaction/compaction_iterator.cc
+++ b/db/compaction/compaction_iterator.cc
@@ -1105,7 +1105,9 @@ void CompactionIterator::DecideOutputLevel() {
   TEST_SYNC_POINT_CALLBACK("CompactionIterator::PrepareOutput.context",
                            &context);
   output_to_penultimate_level_ = context.output_to_penultimate_level;
-#endif /* !NDEBUG */
+#else
+  output_to_penultimate_level_ = false;
+#endif  // NDEBUG
 
   // if the key is newer than the cutoff sequence or within the earliest
   // snapshot, it should output to the penultimate level.