diff --git a/index/scorch/merge.go b/index/scorch/merge.go
index 5ded29b5..41abe065 100644
--- a/index/scorch/merge.go
+++ b/index/scorch/merge.go
@@ -58,44 +58,24 @@ OUTER:
 			_ = ourSnapshot.DecRef()
 
 			// tell the persister we're waiting for changes
-			// first make a notification chan
-			notifyUs := make(notificationChan)
+			// first make a epochWatcher chan
+			ew := &epochWatcher{
+				epoch:    lastEpochMergePlanned,
+				notifyCh: make(notificationChan, 1),
+			}
 
 			// give it to the persister
 			select {
 			case <-s.closeCh:
 				break OUTER
-			case s.persisterNotifier <- notifyUs:
+			case s.persisterNotifier <- ew:
 			}
 
-			// check again
-			s.rootLock.RLock()
-			ourSnapshot = s.root
-			ourSnapshot.AddRef()
-			s.rootLock.RUnlock()
-
-			if ourSnapshot.epoch != lastEpochMergePlanned {
-				startTime := time.Now()
-
-				// lets get started
-				err := s.planMergeAtSnapshot(ourSnapshot)
-				if err != nil {
-					s.fireAsyncError(fmt.Errorf("merging err: %v", err))
-					_ = ourSnapshot.DecRef()
-					continue OUTER
-				}
-				lastEpochMergePlanned = ourSnapshot.epoch
-
-				s.fireEvent(EventKindMergerProgress, time.Since(startTime))
-			}
-			_ = ourSnapshot.DecRef()
-
-			// now wait for it (but also detect close)
+			// now wait for persister (but also detect close)
 			select {
 			case <-s.closeCh:
 				break OUTER
-			case <-notifyUs:
-				// woken up, next loop should pick up work
+			case <-ew.notifyCh:
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/index/scorch/persister.go b/index/scorch/persister.go
index cdcee37c..c9d91dc5 100644
--- a/index/scorch/persister.go
+++ b/index/scorch/persister.go
@@ -39,15 +39,29 @@ type notificationChan chan struct{}
 func (s *Scorch) persisterLoop() {
 	defer s.asyncTasks.Done()
 
-	var notifyChs []notificationChan
+	var persistWatchers []*epochWatcher
 	var lastPersistedEpoch uint64
+
+	notifyWatchers := func() {
+		var watchersNext []*epochWatcher
+		for _, w := range persistWatchers {
+			if w.epoch < lastPersistedEpoch {
+				close(w.notifyCh)
+			} else {
+				watchersNext = append(watchersNext, w)
+			}
+		}
+		persistWatchers = watchersNext
+	}
+
 OUTER:
 	for {
 		select {
 		case <-s.closeCh:
 			break OUTER
-		case notifyCh := <-s.persisterNotifier:
-			notifyChs = append(notifyChs, notifyCh)
+		case ew := <-s.persisterNotifier:
+			persistWatchers = append(persistWatchers, ew)
+			notifyWatchers()
 		default:
 		}
 
@@ -81,10 +95,11 @@ OUTER:
 			}
 
 			lastPersistedEpoch = ourSnapshot.epoch
-			for _, notifyCh := range notifyChs {
-				close(notifyCh)
+			for _, ew := range persistWatchers {
+				close(ew.notifyCh)
 			}
-			notifyChs = nil
+
+			persistWatchers = nil
 			_ = ourSnapshot.DecRef()
 
 			changed := false
@@ -120,6 +135,12 @@ OUTER:
 			break OUTER
 		case <-w.notifyCh:
 			// woken up, next loop should pick up work
+			continue OUTER
+		case ew := <-s.persisterNotifier:
+			// if the watchers are already caught up then let them wait,
+			// else let them continue to do the catch up
+			persistWatchers = append(persistWatchers, ew)
+			notifyWatchers()
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/index/scorch/scorch.go b/index/scorch/scorch.go
index 31107765..b4e06fc2 100644
--- a/index/scorch/scorch.go
+++ b/index/scorch/scorch.go
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ type Scorch struct {
 	merges             chan *segmentMerge
 	introducerNotifier chan *epochWatcher
 	revertToSnapshots  chan *snapshotReversion
-	persisterNotifier  chan notificationChan
+	persisterNotifier  chan *epochWatcher
 	rootBolt           *bolt.DB
 	asyncTasks         sync.WaitGroup
 
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ func (s *Scorch) Open() error {
 	s.merges = make(chan *segmentMerge)
 	s.introducerNotifier = make(chan *epochWatcher, 1)
 	s.revertToSnapshots = make(chan *snapshotReversion)
-	s.persisterNotifier = make(chan notificationChan)
+	s.persisterNotifier = make(chan *epochWatcher, 1)
 
 	if !s.readOnly && s.path != "" {
 		err := s.removeOldZapFiles() // Before persister or merger create any new files.