diff --git a/index/scorch/merge.go b/index/scorch/merge.go
index 41086ad3..42b5e950 100644
--- a/index/scorch/merge.go
+++ b/index/scorch/merge.go
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ package scorch
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"encoding/json"
-
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"sync/atomic"
@@ -59,6 +58,11 @@ OUTER:
 				// lets get started
 				err := s.planMergeAtSnapshot(ourSnapshot, mergePlannerOptions)
 				if err != nil {
+					if err == ErrClosed {
+						// index has been closed
+						_ = ourSnapshot.DecRef()
+						break OUTER
+					}
 					s.fireAsyncError(fmt.Errorf("merging err: %v", err))
 					_ = ourSnapshot.DecRef()
 					atomic.AddUint64(&s.stats.TotFileMergeLoopErr, 1)
@@ -231,7 +235,7 @@ func (s *Scorch) planMergeAtSnapshot(ourSnapshot *IndexSnapshot,
 		select {
 		case <-s.closeCh:
 			_ = segment.Close()
-			return nil
+			return ErrClosed
 		case s.merges <- sm:
 			atomic.AddUint64(&s.stats.TotFileMergeIntroductions, 1)
 		}
@@ -242,7 +246,7 @@ func (s *Scorch) planMergeAtSnapshot(ourSnapshot *IndexSnapshot,
 	for _, notification := range notifications {
 		select {
 		case <-s.closeCh:
-			return nil
+			return ErrClosed
 		case newSnapshot := <-notification:
 			atomic.AddUint64(&s.stats.TotFileMergeIntroductionsDone, 1)
 			if newSnapshot != nil {
@@ -338,13 +342,13 @@ func (s *Scorch) mergeSegmentBases(snapshot *IndexSnapshot,
 	select { // send to introducer
 	case <-s.closeCh:
 		_ = segment.DecRef()
-		return 0, nil, 0, nil // TODO: return ErrInterruptedClosed?
+		return 0, nil, 0, ErrClosed
 	case s.merges <- sm:
 	}
 
 	select { // wait for introduction to complete
 	case <-s.closeCh:
-		return 0, nil, 0, nil // TODO: return ErrInterruptedClosed?
+		return 0, nil, 0, ErrClosed
 	case newSnapshot := <-sm.notify:
 		atomic.AddUint64(&s.stats.TotMemMergeSegments, uint64(len(sbs)))
 		atomic.AddUint64(&s.stats.TotMemMergeDone, 1)
diff --git a/index/scorch/persister.go b/index/scorch/persister.go
index dda4bdfb..2fab5324 100644
--- a/index/scorch/persister.go
+++ b/index/scorch/persister.go
@@ -94,6 +94,11 @@ OUTER:
 				close(ch)
 			}
 			if err != nil {
+				if err == ErrClosed {
+					// index has been closed
+					_ = ourSnapshot.DecRef()
+					break OUTER
+				}
 				s.fireAsyncError(fmt.Errorf("got err persisting snapshot: %v", err))
 				_ = ourSnapshot.DecRef()
 				atomic.AddUint64(&s.stats.TotPersistLoopErr, 1)