diff --git a/source/net/yacy/kelondro/rwi/IndexCell.java b/source/net/yacy/kelondro/rwi/IndexCell.java
index 9bf68844e..5218d3702 100644
--- a/source/net/yacy/kelondro/rwi/IndexCell.java
+++ b/source/net/yacy/kelondro/rwi/IndexCell.java
@@ -177,23 +177,27 @@ public final class IndexCell<ReferenceType extends Reference> extends AbstractBu
         boolean donesomething = false;
 
         // first try to merge small files that match
-        while (this.merger.queueLength() < 3 || this.array.entries() >= 50) {
-            donesomething = this.array.shrinkBestSmallFiles(this.merger, targetFileSize);
+        int term = 10;
+        while (term-- > 0 && (this.merger.queueLength() < 3 || this.array.entries() >= 50)) {
+            if (!this.array.shrinkBestSmallFiles(this.merger, targetFileSize)) break; else donesomething = true;
         }
 
         // then try to merge simply any small file
-        while (this.merger.queueLength() < 2) {
-            donesomething = this.array.shrinkAnySmallFiles(this.merger, targetFileSize);
+        term = 10;
+        while (term-- > 0 && (this.merger.queueLength() < 2)) {
+            if (!this.array.shrinkAnySmallFiles(this.merger, targetFileSize)) break; else donesomething = true;
         }
 
         // if there is no small file, then merge matching files up to limit
-        while (this.merger.queueLength() < 1) {
-            donesomething = this.array.shrinkUpToMaxSizeFiles(this.merger, maxFileSize);
+        term = 10;
+        while (term-- > 0 && (this.merger.queueLength() < 1)) {
+            if (!this.array.shrinkUpToMaxSizeFiles(this.merger, maxFileSize)) break; else donesomething = true;
         }
 
         // rewrite old files (hack from sixcooler, see http://forum.yacy-websuche.de/viewtopic.php?p=15004#p15004)
-        while (this.merger.queueLength() < 1) {
-            donesomething = this.array.shrinkOldFiles(this.merger, targetFileSize);
+        term = 10;
+        while (term-- > 0 && (this.merger.queueLength() < 1)) {
+            if (!this.array.shrinkOldFiles(this.merger, targetFileSize)) break; else donesomething = true;
         }
 
         return donesomething;