diff --git a/blockstore_flush.cpp b/blockstore_flush.cpp
index da65a00b..8ae72ca3 100644
--- a/blockstore_flush.cpp
+++ b/blockstore_flush.cpp
@@ -53,14 +53,14 @@ journal_flusher_t::~journal_flusher_t()
 
 bool journal_flusher_t::is_active()
 {
-    return active_flushers > 0 || flush_queue.size() >= sync_threshold;
+    return active_flushers > 0 || start_forced && flush_queue.size() > 0 || flush_queue.size() >= sync_threshold;
 }
 
 void journal_flusher_t::loop()
 {
     for (int i = 0; i < flusher_count; i++)
     {
-        if (!active_flushers && flush_queue.size() < sync_threshold)
+        if (!active_flushers && (start_forced ? !flush_queue.size() : (flush_queue.size() < sync_threshold)))
         {
             return;
         }
@@ -98,6 +98,12 @@ void journal_flusher_t::unshift_flush(obj_ver_id ov)
     }
 }
 
+void journal_flusher_t::force_start()
+{
+    start_forced = true;
+    bs->ringloop->wakeup(bs->ring_consumer);
+}
+
 #define await_sqe(label) \
     resume_##label:\
         sqe = bs->get_sqe();\
@@ -148,8 +154,9 @@ bool journal_flusher_co::loop()
         goto resume_18;
 resume_0:
     if (!flusher->flush_queue.size() ||
-        !flusher->active_flushers && flusher->flush_queue.size() < flusher->sync_threshold)
+        !flusher->start_forced && !flusher->active_flushers && flusher->flush_queue.size() < flusher->sync_threshold)
     {
+        flusher->start_forced = false;
         wait_state = 0;
         return true;
     }
diff --git a/blockstore_flush.h b/blockstore_flush.h
index 3f5929ad..f1c5f54f 100644
--- a/blockstore_flush.h
+++ b/blockstore_flush.h
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ public:
 // Journal flusher itself
 class journal_flusher_t
 {
+    bool start_forced = false;
     int flusher_count;
     int sync_threshold;
     journal_flusher_co *co;
@@ -81,6 +82,7 @@ public:
     ~journal_flusher_t();
     void loop();
     bool is_active();
+    void force_start();
     void enqueue_flush(obj_ver_id oid);
     void unshift_flush(obj_ver_id oid);
 };
diff --git a/blockstore_journal.cpp b/blockstore_journal.cpp
index 154fd93d..6d6f6654 100644
--- a/blockstore_journal.cpp
+++ b/blockstore_journal.cpp
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ int blockstore_journal_check_t::check_available(blockstore_operation *op, int re
     {
         // No space in the journal. Wait until used_start changes.
         op->wait_for = WAIT_JOURNAL;
+        bs->flusher->force_start();
         op->wait_detail = bs->journal.used_start;
         return 0;
     }