diff --git a/dbsim/db_server_service.cpp b/dbsim/db_server_service.cpp
index 8fc58dde..6d49c6f2 100644
--- a/dbsim/db_server_service.cpp
+++ b/dbsim/db_server_service.cpp
@@ -86,8 +86,9 @@ int db::server_service::start_sst(
     return 0;
 }
 
-void db::server_service::background_rollback(wsrep::client_state&)
+bool db::server_service::background_rollback(wsrep::client_state&)
 {
+    return false;
 }
 
 void db::server_service::bootstrap()
diff --git a/dbsim/db_server_service.hpp b/dbsim/db_server_service.hpp
index e5cd70d2..fd47c5f8 100644
--- a/dbsim/db_server_service.hpp
+++ b/dbsim/db_server_service.hpp
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ namespace db
         bool sst_before_init() const override;
         int start_sst(const std::string&, const wsrep::gtid&, bool) override;
         std::string sst_request() override;
-        void background_rollback(wsrep::client_state&) override;
+        bool background_rollback(wsrep::client_state&) override;
         void bootstrap() override;
         void log_message(enum wsrep::log::level, const char* message) override;
         void log_dummy_write_set(wsrep::client_state&, const wsrep::ws_meta&)
diff --git a/include/wsrep/server_service.hpp b/include/wsrep/server_service.hpp
index 2021e66d..75572ae3 100644
--- a/include/wsrep/server_service.hpp
+++ b/include/wsrep/server_service.hpp
@@ -85,8 +85,9 @@ namespace wsrep
 
         /**
          * Perform a background rollback for a transaction.
+         * @return true if rollbacker was not started, false otherwise
          */
-        virtual void background_rollback(wsrep::client_state&) = 0;
+        virtual bool background_rollback(wsrep::client_state&) = 0;
 
         /**
          * Bootstrap a DBMS state for a new cluster.
diff --git a/src/transaction.cpp b/src/transaction.cpp
index c864a0fa..bcc430f9 100644
--- a/src/transaction.cpp
+++ b/src/transaction.cpp
@@ -1074,8 +1074,19 @@ bool wsrep::transaction::bf_abort(
             }
 
             lock.unlock();
-            server_service_.background_rollback(client_state_);
-            lock.lock();
+            /* if background rollback is skipped, reset rollbacker activity */
+            if (server_service_.background_rollback(client_state_))
+            {
+                lock.lock();
+                client_state_.set_rollbacker_active(false);
+
+                /* release the victim from waiting, if it has advanced to
+                   wait_rollback_complete_and_acquire_ownership stage */
+                if (client_state_.state() == wsrep::client_state::s_idle)
+                  client_state_.cond_.notify_all();
+            }
+            else
+                lock.lock();
         }
     }
     return ret;
diff --git a/test/mock_server_state.hpp b/test/mock_server_state.hpp
index fabdf6b7..49fb4900 100644
--- a/test/mock_server_state.hpp
+++ b/test/mock_server_state.hpp
@@ -183,11 +183,12 @@ namespace wsrep
             return start_sst_action();
         }
 
-        void
+        bool
         background_rollback(wsrep::client_state& client_state) WSREP_OVERRIDE
         {
             client_state.before_rollback();
             client_state.after_rollback();
+            return false;
         }
 
         int wait_committing_transactions(int) WSREP_OVERRIDE { return 0; }