diff --git a/db/db_impl.cc b/db/db_impl.cc
index 5abfb4ac2..dc9399fd8 100644
--- a/db/db_impl.cc
+++ b/db/db_impl.cc
@@ -4036,7 +4036,7 @@ Status DBImpl::Write(const WriteOptions& options, WriteBatch* my_batch) {
 
   if (UNLIKELY(status.ok()) &&
       (write_controller_.IsStopped() || write_controller_.GetDelay() > 0)) {
-    DelayWrite(expiration_time);
+    status = DelayWrite(expiration_time);
   }
 
   if (UNLIKELY(status.ok() && has_timeout &&
@@ -4151,7 +4151,7 @@ Status DBImpl::Write(const WriteOptions& options, WriteBatch* my_batch) {
 
 // REQUIRES: mutex_ is held
 // REQUIRES: this thread is currently at the front of the writer queue
-void DBImpl::DelayWrite(uint64_t expiration_time) {
+Status DBImpl::DelayWrite(uint64_t expiration_time) {
   StopWatch sw(env_, stats_, WRITE_STALL);
   bool has_timeout = (expiration_time > 0);
   auto delay = write_controller_.GetDelay();
@@ -4161,16 +4161,18 @@ void DBImpl::DelayWrite(uint64_t expiration_time) {
     mutex_.Lock();
   }
 
-  while (write_controller_.IsStopped()) {
+  while (bg_error_.ok() && write_controller_.IsStopped()) {
     if (has_timeout) {
       bg_cv_.TimedWait(expiration_time);
       if (env_->NowMicros() > expiration_time) {
-        break;
+        return Status::TimedOut();
       }
     } else {
       bg_cv_.Wait();
     }
   }
+
+  return bg_error_;
 }
 
 Status DBImpl::ScheduleFlushes(WriteContext* context) {
diff --git a/db/db_impl.h b/db/db_impl.h
index 622df4293..149958315 100644
--- a/db/db_impl.h
+++ b/db/db_impl.h
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ class DBImpl : public DB {
       const autovector<MemTable*>& mems,
       VersionEdit* edit, uint64_t* filenumber, LogBuffer* log_buffer);
 
-  void DelayWrite(uint64_t expiration_time);
+  Status DelayWrite(uint64_t expiration_time);
 
   Status ScheduleFlushes(WriteContext* context);