diff --git a/internal/pack/pack.go b/internal/pack/pack.go
index 7ac06db72..11be41697 100644
--- a/internal/pack/pack.go
+++ b/internal/pack/pack.go
@@ -157,6 +157,13 @@ func (p *Packer) Count() int {
 	return len(p.blobs)
 }
 
+// HeaderFull returns true if the pack header is full.
+func (p *Packer) HeaderFull() bool {
+	p.m.Lock()
+	defer p.m.Unlock()
+	return headerSize+uint(len(p.blobs)+1)*entrySize > MaxHeaderSize
+}
+
 // Blobs returns the slice of blobs that have been written.
 func (p *Packer) Blobs() []restic.Blob {
 	p.m.Lock()
diff --git a/internal/repository/packer_manager.go b/internal/repository/packer_manager.go
index 6179aab5c..e83bf8769 100644
--- a/internal/repository/packer_manager.go
+++ b/internal/repository/packer_manager.go
@@ -87,8 +87,8 @@ func (r *packerManager) SaveBlob(ctx context.Context, t restic.BlobType, id rest
 		return 0, err
 	}
 
-	// if the pack is not full enough, put back to the list
-	if packer.Size() < r.packSize {
+	// if the pack and header is not full enough, put back to the list
+	if packer.Size() < r.packSize && !packer.HeaderFull() {
 		debug.Log("pack is not full enough (%d bytes)", packer.Size())
 		return size, nil
 	}