diff --git a/src/storage/buffer/buffer_pool.cpp b/src/storage/buffer/buffer_pool.cpp
index 104d3fba62eb..c38074836756 100644
--- a/src/storage/buffer/buffer_pool.cpp
+++ b/src/storage/buffer/buffer_pool.cpp
@@ -203,7 +203,9 @@ void EvictionQueue::Purge() {
 		}
 
 		idx_t approx_dead_nodes = total_dead_nodes;
-		approx_dead_nodes = approx_dead_nodes > approx_q_size ? approx_q_size : approx_dead_nodes;
+		if (approx_dead_nodes > approx_q_size) {
+			break;
+		}
 		idx_t approx_alive_nodes = approx_q_size - approx_dead_nodes;
 
 		// early-out according to (2.2)