diff --git a/leveldb/db_state.go b/leveldb/db_state.go
index 85b02d2..65e1c54 100644
--- a/leveldb/db_state.go
+++ b/leveldb/db_state.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 package leveldb
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
 
@@ -15,6 +16,10 @@
 	"github.com/syndtr/goleveldb/leveldb/storage"
 )
 
+var (
+	errHasFrozenMem = errors.New("has frozen mem")
+)
+
 type memDB struct {
 	db *DB
 	*memdb.DB
@@ -126,7 +131,7 @@
 	defer db.memMu.Unlock()
 
 	if db.frozenMem != nil {
-		panic("still has frozen mem")
+		return nil, errHasFrozenMem
 	}
 
 	if db.journal == nil {
diff --git a/leveldb/db_write.go b/leveldb/db_write.go
index cc428b6..5b6cb48 100644
--- a/leveldb/db_write.go
+++ b/leveldb/db_write.go
@@ -32,15 +32,24 @@
 }
 
 func (db *DB) rotateMem(n int, wait bool) (mem *memDB, err error) {
+	retryLimit := 3
+retry:
 	// Wait for pending memdb compaction.
 	err = db.compTriggerWait(db.mcompCmdC)
 	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
+	retryLimit--
 
 	// Create new memdb and journal.
 	mem, err = db.newMem(n)
 	if err != nil {
+		if err == errHasFrozenMem {
+			if retryLimit <= 0 {
+				panic("BUG: still has frozen memdb")
+			}
+			goto retry
+		}
 		return
 	}