diff --git a/src/evict.c b/src/evict.c
index 77f63cba..5ce5ca07 100644
--- a/src/evict.c
+++ b/src/evict.c
@@ -380,11 +380,10 @@ int freeMemoryIfNeeded(void) {
     long long delta;
     int slaves = listLength(server.slaves);
 
-    /* We cannot free memory while clients are paused as this will require
-     * evictions which modify the dataset and will break the guarantee that
-     * data will be static while clients are paused. */
-    if (clientsArePaused())
-        goto cant_free;
+    /* When clients are paused the dataset should be static not just from the
+     * POV of clients not being able to write, but also from the POV of
+     * expires and evictions of keys not being performed. */
+    if (clientsArePaused()) return C_OK;
 
     /* Check if we are over the memory usage limit. If we are not, no need
      * to subtract the slaves output buffers. We can just return ASAP. */
diff --git a/src/expire.c b/src/expire.c
index 14da78ec..a02fe566 100644
--- a/src/expire.c
+++ b/src/expire.c
@@ -105,8 +105,9 @@ void activeExpireCycle(int type) {
     int dbs_per_call = CRON_DBS_PER_CALL;
     long long start = ustime(), timelimit;
 
-    /* We cannot expire keys while clients are paused as the dataset is
-     * supposed to be static. */
+    /* When clients are paused the dataset should be static not just from the
+     * POV of clients not being able to write, but also from the POV of
+     * expires and evictions of keys not being performed. */
     if (clientsArePaused()) return;
 
     if (type == ACTIVE_EXPIRE_CYCLE_FAST) {