diff --git a/db/db_impl_write.cc b/db/db_impl_write.cc
index f1c7665e0..48ea729a8 100644
--- a/db/db_impl_write.cc
+++ b/db/db_impl_write.cc
@@ -697,7 +697,7 @@ Status DBImpl::PreprocessWrite(const WriteOptions& write_options,
   }
 
   if (UNLIKELY(status.ok() && !bg_error_.ok())) {
-    return bg_error_;
+    status = bg_error_;
   }
 
   if (UNLIKELY(status.ok() && !flush_scheduler_.Empty())) {