diff --git a/db/column_family.cc b/db/column_family.cc
index 290283608..1611125cd 100644
--- a/db/column_family.cc
+++ b/db/column_family.cc
@@ -1306,6 +1306,10 @@ Env::WriteLifeTimeHint ColumnFamilyData::CalculateSSTWriteHint(int level) {
   // L1: medium, L2: long, ...
   if (level - base_level >= 2) {
     return Env::WLTH_EXTREME;
+  } else if (level < base_level) {
+    // There is no restriction which prevents level passed in to be smaller
+    // than base_level.
+    return Env::WLTH_MEDIUM;
   }
   return static_cast<Env::WriteLifeTimeHint>(level - base_level +
                             static_cast<int>(Env::WLTH_MEDIUM));