diff --git a/kmod/src/alloc.c b/kmod/src/alloc.c
index 2eb855b3..3f0c6aaa 100644
--- a/kmod/src/alloc.c
+++ b/kmod/src/alloc.c
@@ -1085,27 +1085,17 @@ out:
 }
 
 /*
- * Returns true if we're running low on avail blocks or running out of
- * space for freed blocks.
- *
- * On the avail side, we're avoiding spurious enospc as our avail block
- * runs low.  If we commit it can be refilled by the server.
- *
- * On the freed side, we're avoiding getting errors in frees where they
- * can't be recovered from.  This is mostly in freeing cowed blocks in
- * the data allocator btree which is related to its height.
- *
- * And both of these need to be mindful of multiple tasks entering the
- * transaction.
+ * Returns true if meta avail and free don't have room for the given
+ * number of alloctions or frees.
  */
-bool scoutfs_alloc_meta_lo_thresh(struct super_block *sb,
-				  struct scoutfs_alloc *alloc)
+bool scoutfs_alloc_meta_low(struct super_block *sb,
+			    struct scoutfs_alloc *alloc, u32 nr)
 {
 	bool lo;
 
 	spin_lock(&alloc->lock);
-	lo = le32_to_cpu(alloc->avail.first_nr) < 8 ||
-	     list_block_space(alloc->freed.first_nr) < 8;
+	lo = le32_to_cpu(alloc->avail.first_nr) < nr ||
+	     list_block_space(alloc->freed.first_nr) < nr;
 	spin_unlock(&alloc->lock);
 
 	return lo;
diff --git a/kmod/src/alloc.h b/kmod/src/alloc.h
index d2cc1f58..d7cffb49 100644
--- a/kmod/src/alloc.h
+++ b/kmod/src/alloc.h
@@ -119,8 +119,8 @@ int scoutfs_alloc_splice_list(struct super_block *sb,
 			      struct scoutfs_alloc_list_head *dst,
 			      struct scoutfs_alloc_list_head *src);
 
-bool scoutfs_alloc_meta_lo_thresh(struct super_block *sb,
-				  struct scoutfs_alloc *alloc);
+bool scoutfs_alloc_meta_low(struct super_block *sb,
+			    struct scoutfs_alloc *alloc, u32 nr);
 
 typedef int (*scoutfs_alloc_foreach_cb_t)(struct super_block *sb, void *arg,
 					  int owner, u64 id,
diff --git a/kmod/src/srch.c b/kmod/src/srch.c
index bfe7a567..2b8569bb 100644
--- a/kmod/src/srch.c
+++ b/kmod/src/srch.c
@@ -1482,7 +1482,7 @@ static bool should_commit(struct super_block *sb, struct scoutfs_alloc *alloc,
 {
 	return (scoutfs_block_writer_dirty_bytes(sb, wri) >=
 		SRCH_COMPACT_DIRTY_LIMIT_BYTES) ||
-		scoutfs_alloc_meta_lo_thresh(sb, alloc);
+		scoutfs_alloc_meta_low(sb, alloc, 8);
 }
 
 struct tourn_node {
diff --git a/kmod/src/trans.c b/kmod/src/trans.c
index 9f36a19d..d029fb19 100644
--- a/kmod/src/trans.c
+++ b/kmod/src/trans.c
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ static bool acquired_hold(struct super_block *sb,
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	if (scoutfs_alloc_meta_lo_thresh(sb, &tri->alloc)) {
+	if (scoutfs_alloc_meta_low(sb, &tri->alloc, 8)) {
 		scoutfs_inc_counter(sb, trans_commit_meta_alloc_low);
 		queue_trans_work(sbi);
 		goto out;