diff --git a/internal/datacoord/meta.go b/internal/datacoord/meta.go
index b930119cc5..6fa94764eb 100644
--- a/internal/datacoord/meta.go
+++ b/internal/datacoord/meta.go
@@ -800,11 +800,13 @@ func (m *meta) CompleteMergeCompaction(compactionLogs []*datapb.CompactionSegmen
 
 	var startPosition, dmlPosition *internalpb.MsgPosition
 	for _, s := range segments {
-		if dmlPosition == nil || s.GetDmlPosition().Timestamp < dmlPosition.Timestamp {
+		if dmlPosition == nil ||
+			s.GetDmlPosition() != nil && s.GetDmlPosition().GetTimestamp() < dmlPosition.GetTimestamp() {
 			dmlPosition = s.GetDmlPosition()
 		}
 
-		if startPosition == nil || s.GetStartPosition().Timestamp < startPosition.Timestamp {
+		if startPosition == nil ||
+			s.GetStartPosition() != nil && s.GetStartPosition().GetTimestamp() < startPosition.GetTimestamp() {
 			startPosition = s.GetStartPosition()
 		}
 	}