diff --git a/db/schema_tables.cc b/db/schema_tables.cc
index bf9c6ac04d..5d94b54992 100644
--- a/db/schema_tables.cc
+++ b/db/schema_tables.cc
@@ -822,6 +822,14 @@ future<> merge_schema(distributed<service::storage_proxy>& proxy, gms::feature_s
     });
 }
 
+future<> recalculate_schema_version(distributed<service::storage_proxy>& proxy, gms::feature_service& feat) {
+    return merge_lock().then([&proxy, &feat] {
+        return update_schema_version_and_announce(proxy, feat.cluster_schema_features());
+    }).finally([] {
+        return merge_unlock();
+    });
+}
+
 future<> merge_schema(distributed<service::storage_proxy>& proxy, std::vector<mutation> mutations, bool do_flush)
 {
     return merge_lock().then([&proxy, mutations = std::move(mutations), do_flush] () mutable {
diff --git a/db/schema_tables.hh b/db/schema_tables.hh
index f828c00c45..51345cf6a9 100644
--- a/db/schema_tables.hh
+++ b/db/schema_tables.hh
@@ -170,6 +170,13 @@ future<> merge_schema(distributed<service::storage_proxy>& proxy, gms::feature_s
 
 future<> merge_schema(distributed<service::storage_proxy>& proxy, std::vector<mutation> mutations, bool do_flush);
 
+// Recalculates the local schema version and publishes it in gossip.
+//
+// It is safe to call concurrently with recalculate_schema_version() and merge_schema() in which case it
+// is guaranteed that the schema version we end up with after all calls will reflect the most recent state
+// of feature_service and schema tables.
+future<> recalculate_schema_version(distributed<service::storage_proxy>& proxy, gms::feature_service& feat);
+
 future<std::set<sstring>> merge_keyspaces(distributed<service::storage_proxy>& proxy, schema_result&& before, schema_result&& after);
 
 std::vector<mutation> make_create_keyspace_mutations(lw_shared_ptr<keyspace_metadata> keyspace, api::timestamp_type timestamp, bool with_tables_and_types_and_functions = true);
diff --git a/service/migration_manager.cc b/service/migration_manager.cc
index 1d3cdce603..3d13653775 100644
--- a/service/migration_manager.cc
+++ b/service/migration_manager.cc
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ void migration_manager::init_messaging_service()
         //FIXME: future discarded.
         (void)with_gate(_background_tasks, [this] {
             mlogger.debug("features changed, recalculating schema version");
-            return update_schema_version_and_announce(get_storage_proxy(), _feat.cluster_schema_features());
+            return db::schema_tables::recalculate_schema_version(get_storage_proxy(), _feat);
         });
     };