diff --git a/chain/src/chain.rs b/chain/src/chain.rs
index 0cad711e90..33d3eff9a9 100644
--- a/chain/src/chain.rs
+++ b/chain/src/chain.rs
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ use crate::types::{
 	BlockStatus, ChainAdapter, CommitPos, NoStatus, Options, Tip, TxHashsetWriteStatus,
 };
 use crate::util::secp::pedersen::{Commitment, RangeProof};
-use crate::util::RwLock;
+use crate::util::{Mutex, RwLock};
 use crate::{
 	core::core::hash::{Hash, Hashed},
 	store::Batch,
@@ -159,6 +159,10 @@ pub struct Chain {
 	denylist: Arc<RwLock<Vec<Hash>>>,
 	archive_mode: bool,
 	genesis: Block,
+	/// Wall-clock of last compaction start. Process-local: a restart clears it so
+	/// the wall-clock gate allows compact immediately; the height threshold in
+	/// `compact()` still limits compacting across frequent restarts.
+	last_compact_trigger: Mutex<Option<Instant>>,
 }
 
 impl Chain {
@@ -209,6 +213,7 @@ impl Chain {
 			denylist: Arc::new(RwLock::new(vec![])),
 			archive_mode,
 			genesis: genesis,
+			last_compact_trigger: Mutex::new(None),
 		};
 
 		chain.log_heads()?;
@@ -1328,6 +1333,9 @@ impl Chain {
 	/// * compacts the txhashset based on current prune_list
 	/// * removes historical blocks and associated data from the db (unless archive mode)
 	///
+	/// Shared entry point for all compaction triggers (sync dice, sync→NoSync,
+	/// owner API). Enforces `MIN_COMPACTION_INTERVAL_SECS` so callers cannot
+	/// compact more often than that wall-clock gap.
 	pub fn compact(&self) -> Result<(), Error> {
 		// A node may be restarted multiple times in a short period of time.
 		// We compact at most once per 60 blocks in this situation by comparing
@@ -1346,6 +1354,14 @@ impl Chain {
 			}
 		}
 
+		// Wall-clock throttle (see MIN_COMPACTION_INTERVAL_SECS). Stamp under the
+		// lock before work so concurrent callers cannot double-trigger.
+		let min_interval = Duration::from_secs(global::MIN_COMPACTION_INTERVAL_SECS);
+		if !try_record_compact_trigger(&self.last_compact_trigger, min_interval, Instant::now()) {
+			debug!("compact: skipping, within min wall-clock interval");
+			return Ok(());
+		}
+
 		// Retrieve archive header here, so as not to attempt a read
 		// lock while removing historical blocks
 		let archive_header = self.txhashset_archive_header()?;
@@ -1862,3 +1878,91 @@ fn setup_head(
 	batch.commit()?;
 	Ok(())
 }
+
+/// If the wall-clock gate allows a compact start, records `now` and returns true.
+/// Lock is held across check+stamp so concurrent callers cannot double-trigger.
+fn try_record_compact_trigger(
+	last: &Mutex<Option<Instant>>,
+	min_interval: Duration,
+	now: Instant,
+) -> bool {
+	let mut last = last.lock();
+	if let Some(t) = *last {
+		if now.duration_since(t) < min_interval {
+			return false;
+		}
+	}
+	*last = Some(now);
+	true
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod compact_gate_tests {
+	use super::try_record_compact_trigger;
+	use crate::util::Mutex;
+	use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicU32, Ordering};
+	use std::sync::{Arc, Barrier};
+	use std::thread;
+	use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
+
+	#[test]
+	fn compact_gate_boundary_inside_and_outside_interval() {
+		let min = Duration::from_secs(3600);
+		let gate = Mutex::new(None);
+		let t0 = Instant::now();
+
+		// First trigger always allowed.
+		assert!(try_record_compact_trigger(&gate, min, t0));
+
+		// Just inside the interval: still blocked.
+		assert!(!try_record_compact_trigger(
+			&gate,
+			min,
+			t0 + min - Duration::from_secs(1)
+		));
+
+		// Exactly at the boundary: allowed again.
+		assert!(try_record_compact_trigger(&gate, min, t0 + min));
+
+		// Just outside the next window: allowed.
+		assert!(try_record_compact_trigger(
+			&gate,
+			min,
+			t0 + min + min + Duration::from_secs(1)
+		));
+	}
+
+	#[test]
+	fn concurrent_compact_gate_triggers_at_most_once() {
+		let min = Duration::from_secs(3600);
+		let gate = Arc::new(Mutex::new(None));
+		let triggers = Arc::new(AtomicU32::new(0));
+		let num_threads = 64;
+		let barrier = Arc::new(Barrier::new(num_threads));
+		let now = Instant::now();
+
+		let handles: Vec<_> = (0..num_threads)
+			.map(|_| {
+				let gate = gate.clone();
+				let triggers = triggers.clone();
+				let barrier = barrier.clone();
+				thread::spawn(move || {
+					barrier.wait();
+					if try_record_compact_trigger(&gate, min, now) {
+						triggers.fetch_add(1, Ordering::SeqCst);
+					}
+				})
+			})
+			.collect();
+
+		for h in handles {
+			h.join().unwrap();
+		}
+
+		assert_eq!(
+			triggers.load(Ordering::SeqCst),
+			1,
+			"concurrent callers must stamp the gate at most once"
+		);
+	}
+}
diff --git a/core/src/global.rs b/core/src/global.rs
index fc8b01cd28..c3c15a2928 100644
--- a/core/src/global.rs
+++ b/core/src/global.rs
@@ -102,6 +102,15 @@ pub const PEER_EXPIRATION_REMOVE_TIME: i64 = PEER_EXPIRATION_DAYS * 24 * 3600;
 /// For a node configured as "archival_mode = true" only the txhashset will be compacted.
 pub const COMPACTION_CHECK: u64 = DAY_HEIGHT;
 
+/// Minimum wall-clock interval between compaction runs (seconds).
+///
+/// `COMPACTION_CHECK` assumes ~1 block/minute. During fast sync many blocks
+/// arrive per second, so the probabilistic check alone would compact too often.
+/// Enforced in `Chain::compact` so every trigger path shares the same policy.
+/// Process-local (cleared on restart); the height threshold in `compact()`
+/// still limits compacting across frequent restarts.
+pub const MIN_COMPACTION_INTERVAL_SECS: u64 = 60 * 60;
+
 /// Number of blocks to reuse a txhashset zip for (automated testing and user testing).
 pub const TESTING_TXHASHSET_ARCHIVE_INTERVAL: u64 = 10;
 
diff --git a/servers/src/common/adapters.rs b/servers/src/common/adapters.rs
index 5bdcb5301b..dd4ca413e6 100644
--- a/servers/src/common/adapters.rs
+++ b/servers/src/common/adapters.rs
@@ -966,19 +966,20 @@ where
 	}
 
 	fn check_compact(&self) {
-		// Roll the dice to trigger compaction at 1/COMPACTION_CHECK chance per block,
-		// uses a different thread to avoid blocking the caller thread (likely a peer)
+		// Roll the dice to trigger compaction at 1/COMPACTION_CHECK chance per block.
+		// Wall-clock throttle lives in Chain::compact so every caller shares it.
 		let mut rng = thread_rng();
-		if 0 == rng.gen_range(0, global::COMPACTION_CHECK) {
-			let chain = self.chain();
-			let _ = thread::Builder::new()
-				.name("compactor".to_string())
-				.spawn(move || {
-					if let Err(e) = chain.compact() {
-						error!("Could not compact chain: {:?}", e);
-					}
-				});
+		if 0 != rng.gen_range(0, global::COMPACTION_CHECK) {
+			return;
 		}
+		let chain = self.chain();
+		let _ = thread::Builder::new()
+			.name("compactor".to_string())
+			.spawn(move || {
+				if let Err(e) = chain.compact() {
+					error!("Could not compact chain: {:?}", e);
+				}
+			});
 	}
 
 	fn request_transaction(&self, h: Hash, peer_info: &PeerInfo) {