diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index a5b0d09be..12156d9df 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 ## master / unreleased
  - [FEATURE] Provide option to compress WAL records using Snappy. [#609](https://github.com/prometheus/tsdb/pull/609)
+ - [BUGFIX] Re-calculate block size when calling `block.Delete`.
+- [CHANGE] The meta file `BlockStats` no longer holds size information. This is now dynamically calculated and kept in memory. It also includes the meta file size which was not included before.
 
 ## 0.8.0
  - [BUGFIX] Calling `Close` more than once on a querier returns an error instead of a panic.
diff --git a/block.go b/block.go
index 1b6e79d9d..bd54e297c 100644
--- a/block.go
+++ b/block.go
@@ -151,12 +151,6 @@ type Appendable interface {
 	Appender() Appender
 }
 
-// SizeReader returns the size of the object in bytes.
-type SizeReader interface {
-	// Size returns the size in bytes.
-	Size() int64
-}
-
 // BlockMeta provides meta information about a block.
 type BlockMeta struct {
 	// Unique identifier for the block and its contents. Changes on compaction.
@@ -183,7 +177,6 @@ type BlockStats struct {
 	NumSeries     uint64 `json:"numSeries,omitempty"`
 	NumChunks     uint64 `json:"numChunks,omitempty"`
 	NumTombstones uint64 `json:"numTombstones,omitempty"`
-	NumBytes      int64  `json:"numBytes,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // BlockDesc describes a block by ULID and time range.
@@ -214,24 +207,24 @@ const metaFilename = "meta.json"
 
 func chunkDir(dir string) string { return filepath.Join(dir, "chunks") }
 
-func readMetaFile(dir string) (*BlockMeta, error) {
+func readMetaFile(dir string) (*BlockMeta, int64, error) {
 	b, err := ioutil.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, metaFilename))
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return nil, 0, err
 	}
 	var m BlockMeta
 
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(b, &m); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return nil, 0, err
 	}
 	if m.Version != 1 {
-		return nil, errors.Errorf("unexpected meta file version %d", m.Version)
+		return nil, 0, errors.Errorf("unexpected meta file version %d", m.Version)
 	}
 
-	return &m, nil
+	return &m, int64(len(b)), nil
 }
 
-func writeMetaFile(logger log.Logger, dir string, meta *BlockMeta) error {
+func writeMetaFile(logger log.Logger, dir string, meta *BlockMeta) (int64, error) {
 	meta.Version = 1
 
 	// Make any changes to the file appear atomic.
@@ -245,26 +238,32 @@ func writeMetaFile(logger log.Logger, dir string, meta *BlockMeta) error {
 
 	f, err := os.Create(tmp)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return 0, err
 	}
 
-	enc := json.NewEncoder(f)
-	enc.SetIndent("", "\t")
+	jsonMeta, err := json.MarshalIndent(meta, "", "\t")
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
 
 	var merr tsdb_errors.MultiError
-	if merr.Add(enc.Encode(meta)); merr.Err() != nil {
+	n, err := f.Write(jsonMeta)
+	if err != nil {
+		merr.Add(err)
 		merr.Add(f.Close())
-		return merr.Err()
+		return 0, merr.Err()
 	}
+
 	// Force the kernel to persist the file on disk to avoid data loss if the host crashes.
-	if merr.Add(f.Sync()); merr.Err() != nil {
+	if err := f.Sync(); err != nil {
+		merr.Add(err)
 		merr.Add(f.Close())
-		return merr.Err()
+		return 0, merr.Err()
 	}
 	if err := f.Close(); err != nil {
-		return err
+		return 0, err
 	}
-	return fileutil.Replace(tmp, path)
+	return int64(n), fileutil.Replace(tmp, path)
 }
 
 // Block represents a directory of time series data covering a continuous time range.
@@ -285,6 +284,11 @@ type Block struct {
 	tombstones TombstoneReader
 
 	logger log.Logger
+
+	numBytesChunks    int64
+	numBytesIndex     int64
+	numBytesTombstone int64
+	numBytesMeta      int64
 }
 
 // OpenBlock opens the block in the directory. It can be passed a chunk pool, which is used
@@ -302,7 +306,7 @@ func OpenBlock(logger log.Logger, dir string, pool chunkenc.Pool) (pb *Block, er
 			err = merr.Err()
 		}
 	}()
-	meta, err := readMetaFile(dir)
+	meta, sizeMeta, err := readMetaFile(dir)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -319,43 +323,28 @@ func OpenBlock(logger log.Logger, dir string, pool chunkenc.Pool) (pb *Block, er
 	}
 	closers = append(closers, ir)
 
-	tr, tsr, err := readTombstones(dir)
+	tr, sizeTomb, err := readTombstones(dir)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	closers = append(closers, tr)
 
-	// TODO refactor to set this at block creation time as
-	// that would be the logical place for a block size to be calculated.
-	bs := blockSize(cr, ir, tsr)
-	meta.Stats.NumBytes = bs
-	err = writeMetaFile(logger, dir, meta)
-	if err != nil {
-		level.Warn(logger).Log("msg", "couldn't write the meta file for the block size", "block", dir, "err", err)
-	}
-
 	pb = &Block{
-		dir:             dir,
-		meta:            *meta,
-		chunkr:          cr,
-		indexr:          ir,
-		tombstones:      tr,
-		symbolTableSize: ir.SymbolTableSize(),
-		logger:          logger,
+		dir:               dir,
+		meta:              *meta,
+		chunkr:            cr,
+		indexr:            ir,
+		tombstones:        tr,
+		symbolTableSize:   ir.SymbolTableSize(),
+		logger:            logger,
+		numBytesChunks:    cr.Size(),
+		numBytesIndex:     ir.Size(),
+		numBytesTombstone: sizeTomb,
+		numBytesMeta:      sizeMeta,
 	}
 	return pb, nil
 }
 
-func blockSize(rr ...SizeReader) int64 {
-	var total int64
-	for _, r := range rr {
-		if r != nil {
-			total += r.Size()
-		}
-	}
-	return total
-}
-
 // Close closes the on-disk block. It blocks as long as there are readers reading from the block.
 func (pb *Block) Close() error {
 	pb.mtx.Lock()
@@ -390,7 +379,9 @@ func (pb *Block) MinTime() int64 { return pb.meta.MinTime }
 func (pb *Block) MaxTime() int64 { return pb.meta.MaxTime }
 
 // Size returns the number of bytes that the block takes up.
-func (pb *Block) Size() int64 { return pb.meta.Stats.NumBytes }
+func (pb *Block) Size() int64 {
+	return pb.numBytesChunks + pb.numBytesIndex + pb.numBytesTombstone + pb.numBytesMeta
+}
 
 // ErrClosing is returned when a block is in the process of being closed.
 var ErrClosing = errors.New("block is closing")
@@ -437,7 +428,12 @@ func (pb *Block) GetSymbolTableSize() uint64 {
 
 func (pb *Block) setCompactionFailed() error {
 	pb.meta.Compaction.Failed = true
-	return writeMetaFile(pb.logger, pb.dir, &pb.meta)
+	n, err := writeMetaFile(pb.logger, pb.dir, &pb.meta)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	pb.numBytesMeta = n
+	return nil
 }
 
 type blockIndexReader struct {
@@ -561,10 +557,17 @@ Outer:
 	pb.tombstones = stones
 	pb.meta.Stats.NumTombstones = pb.tombstones.Total()
 
-	if err := writeTombstoneFile(pb.logger, pb.dir, pb.tombstones); err != nil {
+	n, err := writeTombstoneFile(pb.logger, pb.dir, pb.tombstones)
+	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	return writeMetaFile(pb.logger, pb.dir, &pb.meta)
+	pb.numBytesTombstone = n
+	n, err = writeMetaFile(pb.logger, pb.dir, &pb.meta)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	pb.numBytesMeta = n
+	return nil
 }
 
 // CleanTombstones will remove the tombstones and rewrite the block (only if there are any tombstones).
diff --git a/block_test.go b/block_test.go
index 7cd02ddb6..6718051a7 100644
--- a/block_test.go
+++ b/block_test.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/go-kit/kit/log"
 	"github.com/prometheus/tsdb/chunks"
+	"github.com/prometheus/tsdb/labels"
 	"github.com/prometheus/tsdb/testutil"
 	"github.com/prometheus/tsdb/tsdbutil"
 )
@@ -40,9 +41,10 @@ func TestBlockMetaMustNeverBeVersion2(t *testing.T) {
 		testutil.Ok(t, os.RemoveAll(dir))
 	}()
 
-	testutil.Ok(t, writeMetaFile(log.NewNopLogger(), dir, &BlockMeta{}))
+	_, err = writeMetaFile(log.NewNopLogger(), dir, &BlockMeta{})
+	testutil.Ok(t, err)
 
-	meta, err := readMetaFile(dir)
+	meta, _, err := readMetaFile(dir)
 	testutil.Ok(t, err)
 	testutil.Assert(t, meta.Version != 2, "meta.json version must never be 2")
 }
@@ -149,6 +151,60 @@ func TestCorruptedChunk(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// TestBlockSize ensures that the block size is calculated correctly.
+func TestBlockSize(t *testing.T) {
+	tmpdir, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "test_blockSize")
+	testutil.Ok(t, err)
+	defer func() {
+		testutil.Ok(t, os.RemoveAll(tmpdir))
+	}()
+
+	var (
+		blockInit    *Block
+		expSizeInit  int64
+		blockDirInit string
+	)
+
+	// Create a block and compare the reported size vs actual disk size.
+	{
+		blockDirInit = createBlock(t, tmpdir, genSeries(10, 1, 1, 100))
+		blockInit, err = OpenBlock(nil, blockDirInit, nil)
+		testutil.Ok(t, err)
+		defer func() {
+			testutil.Ok(t, blockInit.Close())
+		}()
+		expSizeInit = blockInit.Size()
+		actSizeInit, err := testutil.DirSize(blockInit.Dir())
+		testutil.Ok(t, err)
+		testutil.Equals(t, expSizeInit, actSizeInit)
+	}
+
+	// Delete some series and check the sizes again.
+	{
+		testutil.Ok(t, blockInit.Delete(1, 10, labels.NewMustRegexpMatcher("", ".*")))
+		expAfterDelete := blockInit.Size()
+		testutil.Assert(t, expAfterDelete > expSizeInit, "after a delete the block size should be bigger as the tombstone file should grow %v > %v", expAfterDelete, expSizeInit)
+		actAfterDelete, err := testutil.DirSize(blockDirInit)
+		testutil.Ok(t, err)
+		testutil.Equals(t, expAfterDelete, actAfterDelete, "after a delete reported block size doesn't match actual disk size")
+
+		c, err := NewLeveledCompactor(context.Background(), nil, log.NewNopLogger(), []int64{0}, nil)
+		testutil.Ok(t, err)
+		blockDirAfterCompact, err := c.Compact(tmpdir, []string{blockInit.Dir()}, nil)
+		testutil.Ok(t, err)
+		blockAfterCompact, err := OpenBlock(nil, filepath.Join(tmpdir, blockDirAfterCompact.String()), nil)
+		testutil.Ok(t, err)
+		defer func() {
+			testutil.Ok(t, blockAfterCompact.Close())
+		}()
+		expAfterCompact := blockAfterCompact.Size()
+		actAfterCompact, err := testutil.DirSize(blockAfterCompact.Dir())
+		testutil.Ok(t, err)
+		testutil.Assert(t, actAfterDelete > actAfterCompact, "after a delete and compaction the block size should be smaller %v,%v", actAfterDelete, actAfterCompact)
+		testutil.Equals(t, expAfterCompact, actAfterCompact, "after a delete and compaction reported block size doesn't match actual disk size")
+	}
+}
+
 // createBlock creates a block with given set of series and returns its dir.
 func createBlock(tb testing.TB, dir string, series []Series) string {
 	head := createHead(tb, series)
diff --git a/compact.go b/compact.go
index 4a56f585c..10368250d 100644
--- a/compact.go
+++ b/compact.go
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ func (c *LeveledCompactor) Plan(dir string) ([]string, error) {
 
 	var dms []dirMeta
 	for _, dir := range dirs {
-		meta, err := readMetaFile(dir)
+		meta, _, err := readMetaFile(dir)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ func (c *LeveledCompactor) Compact(dest string, dirs []string, open []*Block) (u
 	start := time.Now()
 
 	for _, d := range dirs {
-		meta, err := readMetaFile(d)
+		meta, _, err := readMetaFile(d)
 		if err != nil {
 			return uid, err
 		}
@@ -420,12 +420,14 @@ func (c *LeveledCompactor) Compact(dest string, dirs []string, open []*Block) (u
 		if meta.Stats.NumSamples == 0 {
 			for _, b := range bs {
 				b.meta.Compaction.Deletable = true
-				if err = writeMetaFile(c.logger, b.dir, &b.meta); err != nil {
+				n, err := writeMetaFile(c.logger, b.dir, &b.meta)
+				if err != nil {
 					level.Error(c.logger).Log(
 						"msg", "Failed to write 'Deletable' to meta file after compaction",
 						"ulid", b.meta.ULID,
 					)
 				}
+				b.numBytesMeta = n
 			}
 			uid = ulid.ULID{}
 			level.Info(c.logger).Log(
@@ -600,12 +602,12 @@ func (c *LeveledCompactor) write(dest string, meta *BlockMeta, blocks ...BlockRe
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	if err = writeMetaFile(c.logger, tmp, meta); err != nil {
+	if _, err = writeMetaFile(c.logger, tmp, meta); err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "write merged meta")
 	}
 
 	// Create an empty tombstones file.
-	if err := writeTombstoneFile(c.logger, tmp, newMemTombstones()); err != nil {
+	if _, err := writeTombstoneFile(c.logger, tmp, newMemTombstones()); err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "write new tombstones file")
 	}
 
diff --git a/db.go b/db.go
index 127019b47..257a258f1 100644
--- a/db.go
+++ b/db.go
@@ -629,7 +629,7 @@ func (db *DB) openBlocks() (blocks []*Block, corrupted map[ulid.ULID]error, err
 
 	corrupted = make(map[ulid.ULID]error)
 	for _, dir := range dirs {
-		meta, err := readMetaFile(dir)
+		meta, _, err := readMetaFile(dir)
 		if err != nil {
 			level.Error(db.logger).Log("msg", "not a block dir", "dir", dir)
 			continue
diff --git a/db_test.go b/db_test.go
index 20dcf6306..27ab82cdf 100644
--- a/db_test.go
+++ b/db_test.go
@@ -100,9 +100,6 @@ func TestDB_reloadOrder(t *testing.T) {
 
 	testutil.Ok(t, db.reload())
 	blocks := db.Blocks()
-	for _, b := range blocks {
-		b.meta.Stats.NumBytes = 0
-	}
 	testutil.Equals(t, 3, len(blocks))
 	testutil.Equals(t, metas[1].MinTime, blocks[0].Meta().MinTime)
 	testutil.Equals(t, metas[1].MaxTime, blocks[0].Meta().MaxTime)
@@ -1060,7 +1057,8 @@ func TestSizeRetention(t *testing.T) {
 	testutil.Ok(t, db.reload())                                       // Reload the db to register the new db size.
 	testutil.Equals(t, len(blocks), len(db.Blocks()))                 // Ensure all blocks are registered.
 	expSize := int64(prom_testutil.ToFloat64(db.metrics.blocksBytes)) // Use the the actual internal metrics.
-	actSize := dbDiskSize(db.Dir())
+	actSize, err := testutil.DirSize(db.Dir())
+	testutil.Ok(t, err)
 	testutil.Equals(t, expSize, actSize, "registered size doesn't match actual disk size")
 
 	// Decrease the max bytes limit so that a delete is triggered.
@@ -1074,7 +1072,8 @@ func TestSizeRetention(t *testing.T) {
 	actBlocks := db.Blocks()
 	expSize = int64(prom_testutil.ToFloat64(db.metrics.blocksBytes))
 	actRetentCount := int(prom_testutil.ToFloat64(db.metrics.sizeRetentionCount))
-	actSize = dbDiskSize(db.Dir())
+	actSize, err = testutil.DirSize(db.Dir())
+	testutil.Ok(t, err)
 
 	testutil.Equals(t, 1, actRetentCount, "metric retention count mismatch")
 	testutil.Equals(t, actSize, expSize, "metric db size doesn't match actual disk size")
@@ -1085,20 +1084,6 @@ func TestSizeRetention(t *testing.T) {
 
 }
 
-func dbDiskSize(dir string) int64 {
-	var statSize int64
-	filepath.Walk(dir, func(path string, info os.FileInfo, err error) error {
-		// Include only index,tombstone and chunks.
-		if filepath.Dir(path) == chunkDir(filepath.Dir(filepath.Dir(path))) ||
-			info.Name() == indexFilename ||
-			info.Name() == tombstoneFilename {
-			statSize += info.Size()
-		}
-		return nil
-	})
-	return statSize
-}
-
 func TestNotMatcherSelectsLabelsUnsetSeries(t *testing.T) {
 	db, delete := openTestDB(t, nil)
 	defer func() {
diff --git a/repair.go b/repair.go
index 38138b12a..1d299047a 100644
--- a/repair.go
+++ b/repair.go
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ func repairBadIndexVersion(logger log.Logger, dir string) error {
 		}
 		// Reset version of meta.json to 1.
 		meta.Version = 1
-		if err := writeMetaFile(logger, d, meta); err != nil {
+		if _, err := writeMetaFile(logger, d, meta); err != nil {
 			return wrapErr(err, d)
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/repair_test.go b/repair_test.go
index 15e85ff64..1d6345cd1 100644
--- a/repair_test.go
+++ b/repair_test.go
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ func TestRepairBadIndexVersion(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Check the current db.
 	// In its current state, lookups should fail with the fixed code.
-	_, err := readMetaFile(dbDir)
+	_, _, err := readMetaFile(dbDir)
 	testutil.NotOk(t, err)
 
 	// Touch chunks dir in block.
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ func TestRepairBadIndexVersion(t *testing.T) {
 		{{"a", "2"}, {"b", "1"}},
 	}, res)
 
-	meta, err := readMetaFile(tmpDbDir)
+	meta, _, err := readMetaFile(tmpDbDir)
 	testutil.Ok(t, err)
 	testutil.Assert(t, meta.Version == 1, "unexpected meta version %d", meta.Version)
 }
diff --git a/tombstones.go b/tombstones.go
index 220af4900..d7b76230c 100644
--- a/tombstones.go
+++ b/tombstones.go
@@ -54,14 +54,15 @@ type TombstoneReader interface {
 	Close() error
 }
 
-func writeTombstoneFile(logger log.Logger, dir string, tr TombstoneReader) error {
+func writeTombstoneFile(logger log.Logger, dir string, tr TombstoneReader) (int64, error) {
 	path := filepath.Join(dir, tombstoneFilename)
 	tmp := path + ".tmp"
 	hash := newCRC32()
+	var size int
 
 	f, err := os.Create(tmp)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return 0, err
 	}
 	defer func() {
 		if f != nil {
@@ -79,10 +80,11 @@ func writeTombstoneFile(logger log.Logger, dir string, tr TombstoneReader) error
 	// Write the meta.
 	buf.PutBE32(MagicTombstone)
 	buf.PutByte(tombstoneFormatV1)
-	_, err = f.Write(buf.Get())
+	n, err := f.Write(buf.Get())
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return 0, err
 	}
+	size += n
 
 	mw := io.MultiWriter(f, hash)
 
@@ -94,32 +96,34 @@ func writeTombstoneFile(logger log.Logger, dir string, tr TombstoneReader) error
 			buf.PutVarint64(iv.Mint)
 			buf.PutVarint64(iv.Maxt)
 
-			_, err = mw.Write(buf.Get())
+			n, err = mw.Write(buf.Get())
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
+			size += n
 		}
 		return nil
 	}); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("error writing tombstones: %v", err)
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("error writing tombstones: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	_, err = f.Write(hash.Sum(nil))
+	n, err = f.Write(hash.Sum(nil))
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return 0, err
 	}
+	size += n
 
 	var merr tsdb_errors.MultiError
 	if merr.Add(f.Sync()); merr.Err() != nil {
 		merr.Add(f.Close())
-		return merr.Err()
+		return 0, merr.Err()
 	}
 
 	if err = f.Close(); err != nil {
-		return err
+		return 0, err
 	}
 	f = nil
-	return fileutil.Replace(tmp, path)
+	return int64(size), fileutil.Replace(tmp, path)
 }
 
 // Stone holds the information on the posting and time-range
@@ -129,41 +133,37 @@ type Stone struct {
 	intervals Intervals
 }
 
-func readTombstones(dir string) (TombstoneReader, SizeReader, error) {
+func readTombstones(dir string) (TombstoneReader, int64, error) {
 	b, err := ioutil.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, tombstoneFilename))
 	if os.IsNotExist(err) {
-		return newMemTombstones(), nil, nil
+		return newMemTombstones(), 0, nil
 	} else if err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, err
-	}
-
-	sr := &TombstoneFile{
-		size: int64(len(b)),
+		return nil, 0, err
 	}
 
 	if len(b) < 5 {
-		return nil, sr, errors.Wrap(encoding.ErrInvalidSize, "tombstones header")
+		return nil, 0, errors.Wrap(encoding.ErrInvalidSize, "tombstones header")
 	}
 
 	d := &encoding.Decbuf{B: b[:len(b)-4]} // 4 for the checksum.
 	if mg := d.Be32(); mg != MagicTombstone {
-		return nil, sr, fmt.Errorf("invalid magic number %x", mg)
+		return nil, 0, fmt.Errorf("invalid magic number %x", mg)
 	}
 	if flag := d.Byte(); flag != tombstoneFormatV1 {
-		return nil, sr, fmt.Errorf("invalid tombstone format %x", flag)
+		return nil, 0, fmt.Errorf("invalid tombstone format %x", flag)
 	}
 
 	if d.Err() != nil {
-		return nil, sr, d.Err()
+		return nil, 0, d.Err()
 	}
 
 	// Verify checksum.
 	hash := newCRC32()
 	if _, err := hash.Write(d.Get()); err != nil {
-		return nil, sr, errors.Wrap(err, "write to hash")
+		return nil, 0, errors.Wrap(err, "write to hash")
 	}
 	if binary.BigEndian.Uint32(b[len(b)-4:]) != hash.Sum32() {
-		return nil, sr, errors.New("checksum did not match")
+		return nil, 0, errors.New("checksum did not match")
 	}
 
 	stonesMap := newMemTombstones()
@@ -173,13 +173,13 @@ func readTombstones(dir string) (TombstoneReader, SizeReader, error) {
 		mint := d.Varint64()
 		maxt := d.Varint64()
 		if d.Err() != nil {
-			return nil, sr, d.Err()
+			return nil, 0, d.Err()
 		}
 
 		stonesMap.addInterval(k, Interval{mint, maxt})
 	}
 
-	return stonesMap, sr, nil
+	return stonesMap, int64(len(b)), nil
 }
 
 type memTombstones struct {
@@ -230,16 +230,6 @@ func (t *memTombstones) addInterval(ref uint64, itvs ...Interval) {
 	}
 }
 
-// TombstoneFile holds information about the tombstone file.
-type TombstoneFile struct {
-	size int64
-}
-
-// Size returns the tombstone file size.
-func (t *TombstoneFile) Size() int64 {
-	return t.size
-}
-
 func (*memTombstones) Close() error {
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/tombstones_test.go b/tombstones_test.go
index 7b0d70b6b..33ebb3bcc 100644
--- a/tombstones_test.go
+++ b/tombstones_test.go
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ func TestWriteAndReadbackTombStones(t *testing.T) {
 		stones.addInterval(ref, dranges...)
 	}
 
-	testutil.Ok(t, writeTombstoneFile(log.NewNopLogger(), tmpdir, stones))
+	_, err := writeTombstoneFile(log.NewNopLogger(), tmpdir, stones)
+	testutil.Ok(t, err)
 
 	restr, _, err := readTombstones(tmpdir)
 	testutil.Ok(t, err)