diff --git a/src/hanoi.erl b/src/hanoi.erl
index 5259b2a..70ab835 100644
--- a/src/hanoi.erl
+++ b/src/hanoi.erl
@@ -222,6 +222,8 @@ open_levels(Dir) ->
                      undefined,
                      lists:seq(MaxLevel, MinLevel, -1)),
 
+    ok = hanoi_level:incremental_merge(TopLevel, 2*?BTREE_SIZE(MaxLevel)),
+
     {ok, TopLevel}.
 
 parse_level(FileName) ->
diff --git a/src/hanoi_level.erl b/src/hanoi_level.erl
index a563e40..b214555 100644
--- a/src/hanoi_level.erl
+++ b/src/hanoi_level.erl
@@ -59,7 +59,6 @@ open(Dir,Level,Next) when Level>0 ->
                                       process_flag(trap_exit,true),
                                       initialize(#state{dir=Dir,level=Level,next=Next})
                               end),
-    incremental_merge(PID, 2*?BTREE_SIZE(?TOP_LEVEL)),
     {ok, PID}.
 
 lookup(Ref, Key) ->