diff --git a/lib/database.cc b/lib/database.cc
index 88be9391..fa632f85 100644
--- a/lib/database.cc
+++ b/lib/database.cc
@@ -1015,7 +1015,7 @@ notmuch_database_end_atomic (notmuch_database_t *notmuch)
 	 * However, we rely on flushing to test atomicity. */
 	const char *thresh = getenv ("XAPIAN_FLUSH_THRESHOLD");
 	if (thresh && atoi (thresh) == 1)
-	    db->commit ();
+	    db->flush ();
     } catch (const Xapian::Error &error) {
 	fprintf (stderr, "A Xapian exception occurred committing transaction: %s.\n",
 		 error.get_msg().c_str());