diff --git a/utilities/transactions/write_prepared_txn_db.cc b/utilities/transactions/write_prepared_txn_db.cc
index 504541ba0..f399ea99d 100644
--- a/utilities/transactions/write_prepared_txn_db.cc
+++ b/utilities/transactions/write_prepared_txn_db.cc
@@ -970,7 +970,9 @@ WritePreparedTxnDB::~WritePreparedTxnDB() {
   // At this point there could be running compaction/flush holding a
   // SnapshotChecker, which holds a pointer back to WritePreparedTxnDB.
   // Make sure those jobs finished before destructing WritePreparedTxnDB.
-  db_impl_->CancelAllBackgroundWork(true /*wait*/);
+  if (!db_impl_->shutting_down_) {
+    db_impl_->CancelAllBackgroundWork(true /*wait*/);
+  }
 }
 
 void SubBatchCounter::InitWithComp(const uint32_t cf) {