diff --git a/lib/log/index.js b/lib/log/index.js
index e8d00b4..7f53e89 100644
--- a/lib/log/index.js
+++ b/lib/log/index.js
@@ -169,11 +169,8 @@ function Log(filename, opts) {
               if (err) throw err
               // prettier-ignore
               debug('Opened log file, last record is at log offset %d', lastRecOffset.value)
-              compact(function doneCompactingOnStartup(err) {
-                if (err) debug('Failed compacting on startup: %s', err.message)
-                // @ts-ignore
-                while (waitingLoad.length) waitingLoad.shift()()
-              })
+              // @ts-ignore
+              while (waitingLoad.length) waitingLoad.shift()()
             })
           }
         }
diff --git a/test/del.test.js b/test/del.test.js
index 6315b6b..ef788bc 100644
--- a/test/del.test.js
+++ b/test/del.test.js
@@ -66,6 +66,9 @@ test('del()', async (t) => {
 
   assert.deepEqual(after, ['m0', 'm1', 'm3', 'm4'], 'msgs after the delete')
 
+  await p(peer.db.log.compact)()
+  assert('compacted')
+
   await p(peer.close)(true)
 
   const log = Log(path.join(DIR, 'db.bin'), {
diff --git a/test/erase.test.js b/test/erase.test.js
index 1cce987..be97a5b 100644
--- a/test/erase.test.js
+++ b/test/erase.test.js
@@ -77,6 +77,9 @@ test('erase()', async (t) => {
 
   assert.deepEqual(after2, [1, 2, 3, 4, 5], '5 metadata exists after the erase')
 
+  await p(peer.db.log.compact)()
+  assert('compacted')
+
   await p(peer.close)(true)
 
   const log = Log(path.join(DIR, 'db.bin'), {
diff --git a/test/log/delete.test.js b/test/log/delete.test.js
index 17f58e8..7505280 100644
--- a/test/log/delete.test.js
+++ b/test/log/delete.test.js
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ test('Log deletes', async (t) => {
     await p(log.close)()
   })
 
-  await t.test('Deleted records auto-compacted upon re-opening', async (t) => {
+  await t.test('Deleted records are not invalid upon re-opening', async (t) => {
     const file = '/tmp/ppppp-db-log-test-del-invalid.log'
     try {
       fs.unlinkSync(file)
@@ -94,12 +94,19 @@ test('Log deletes', async (t) => {
         },
         (err) => {
           assert.ifError(err)
-          assert.deepEqual(arr, [{ text: 'm0' }, { text: 'm2' }])
+          assert.deepEqual(arr, [{ text: 'm0' }, null, { text: 'm2' }])
           resolve()
         }
       )
     })
 
+    await assert.rejects(p(log2._get)(offset2), (err) => {
+      assert.ok(err)
+      assert.equal(err.message, 'Record has been deleted')
+      assert.equal(err.code, 'ERR_AAOL_DELETED_RECORD')
+      return true
+    })
+
     await p(log2.close)()
   })