diff --git a/compaction/compaction_backlog_manager.hh b/compaction/compaction_backlog_manager.hh
index b996f7bc28..b6cf78dc6f 100644
--- a/compaction/compaction_backlog_manager.hh
+++ b/compaction/compaction_backlog_manager.hh
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ public:
     void replace_sstables(const std::vector<sstables::shared_sstable>& old_ssts, const std::vector<sstables::shared_sstable>& new_ssts);
     void register_partially_written_sstable(sstables::shared_sstable sst, backlog_write_progress_manager& wp);
     void register_compacting_sstable(sstables::shared_sstable sst, backlog_read_progress_manager& rp);
-    void transfer_ongoing_charges(compaction_backlog_tracker& new_bt, bool move_read_charges = true);
+    void copy_ongoing_charges(compaction_backlog_tracker& new_bt, bool move_read_charges = true) const;
     void revert_charges(sstables::shared_sstable sst);
 
     void disable() {
diff --git a/compaction/compaction_manager.cc b/compaction/compaction_manager.cc
index 18cdba6151..613081f8f2 100644
--- a/compaction/compaction_manager.cc
+++ b/compaction/compaction_manager.cc
@@ -1761,7 +1761,7 @@ void compaction_backlog_tracker::register_compacting_sstable(sstables::shared_ss
     }
 }
 
-void compaction_backlog_tracker::transfer_ongoing_charges(compaction_backlog_tracker& new_bt, bool move_read_charges) {
+void compaction_backlog_tracker::copy_ongoing_charges(compaction_backlog_tracker& new_bt, bool move_read_charges) const {
     for (auto&& w : _ongoing_writes) {
         new_bt.register_partially_written_sstable(w.first, *w.second);
     }
@@ -1771,8 +1771,6 @@ void compaction_backlog_tracker::transfer_ongoing_charges(compaction_backlog_tra
             new_bt.register_compacting_sstable(w.first, *w.second);
         }
     }
-    _ongoing_writes = {};
-    _ongoing_compactions = {};
 }
 
 void compaction_backlog_tracker::revert_charges(sstables::shared_sstable sst) {
diff --git a/replica/table.cc b/replica/table.cc
index 0c18e805d8..5a8f4bb8dc 100644
--- a/replica/table.cc
+++ b/replica/table.cc
@@ -1160,7 +1160,7 @@ void table::set_compaction_strategy(sstables::compaction_strategy_type strategy)
     // FIXME: decouple backlog_tracker from compaction_strategy, so each group can have its own tracker.
     _compaction_manager.register_backlog_tracker(new_cs.get_backlog_tracker());
     auto move_read_charges = new_cs.type() == _compaction_strategy.type();
-    _compaction_strategy.get_backlog_tracker().transfer_ongoing_charges(new_cs.get_backlog_tracker(), move_read_charges);
+    _compaction_strategy.get_backlog_tracker().copy_ongoing_charges(new_cs.get_backlog_tracker(), move_read_charges);
 
     compaction_group& cg = *_compaction_group;
     auto new_sstables = make_lw_shared<sstables::sstable_set>(new_cs.make_sstable_set(_schema));