diff --git a/compactor/src/hot.rs b/compactor/src/hot.rs
index 85fd507cc9..61ad78b139 100644
--- a/compactor/src/hot.rs
+++ b/compactor/src/hot.rs
@@ -251,6 +251,49 @@ mod tests {
         }
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn no_partitions_no_candidates() {
+        let TestSetup {
+            catalog, shard1, ..
+        } = test_setup().await;
+
+        let candidates = hot_partitions_for_shard(
+            Arc::clone(&catalog.catalog),
+            shard1.shard.id,
+            &query_times(catalog.time_provider()),
+            1,
+            1,
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+
+        assert!(candidates.is_empty());
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn no_files_no_candidates() {
+        let TestSetup {
+            catalog,
+            shard1,
+            table1,
+            ..
+        } = test_setup().await;
+
+        table1.with_shard(&shard1).create_partition("one").await;
+
+        let candidates = hot_partitions_for_shard(
+            Arc::clone(&catalog.catalog),
+            shard1.shard.id,
+            &query_times(catalog.time_provider()),
+            1,
+            1,
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+
+        assert!(candidates.is_empty());
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_hot_partitions_to_compact() {
         let TestSetup {
@@ -299,14 +342,6 @@ mod tests {
         // In order words, the last Case needs all content of previous tests.
         // This shows the priority of selecting compaction candidates
 
-        // --------------------------------------
-        // Case 1: no files yet --> no partition candidates
-        //
-        let candidates = hot_partitions_to_compact(Arc::clone(&compactor))
-            .await
-            .unwrap();
-        assert!(candidates.is_empty());
-
         // --------------------------------------
         // Case 2: no non-deleleted L0 files -->  no partition candidates
         //