diff --git a/replica/compaction_group.hh b/replica/compaction_group.hh
index 5d91e730f0..332eabaab8 100644
--- a/replica/compaction_group.hh
+++ b/replica/compaction_group.hh
@@ -175,6 +175,8 @@ public:
 
     const dht::token_range& token_range() const noexcept;
 
+    size_t memtable_count() const noexcept;
+
     compaction_group_ptr& main_compaction_group() noexcept;
 
     utils::small_vector<compaction_group*, 3> compaction_groups() noexcept;
diff --git a/replica/table.cc b/replica/table.cc
index a69cc90d8d..1ee063a236 100644
--- a/replica/table.cc
+++ b/replica/table.cc
@@ -2024,6 +2024,11 @@ size_t compaction_group::memtable_count() const noexcept {
     return _memtables->size();
 }
 
+size_t storage_group::memtable_count() const noexcept {
+    auto memtable_count = [] (const compaction_group_ptr& cg) { return cg ? cg->memtable_count() : 0; };
+    return memtable_count(_main_cg);
+}
+
 future<> table::flush(std::optional<db::replay_position> pos) {
     if (pos && *pos < _flush_rp) {
         co_return;