diff --git a/kmod/src/manifest.c b/kmod/src/manifest.c
index bc5d5d42..5ecd9f61 100644
--- a/kmod/src/manifest.c
+++ b/kmod/src/manifest.c
@@ -971,8 +971,7 @@ int scoutfs_manifest_next_compact(struct super_block *sb, void *data)
 			if (next.seq < ment.seq)
 				ment = next;
 
-			scoutfs_key_inc(&next.first);
-			init_btree_key(&mkey, next.level, next.seq,
+			init_btree_key(&mkey, next.level, next.seq + 1,
 				       &next.first);
 		}