diff --git a/core/rawdb/database.go b/core/rawdb/database.go
index cc05491b8..583573407 100644
--- a/core/rawdb/database.go
+++ b/core/rawdb/database.go
@@ -41,10 +41,10 @@ type freezerdb struct {
 // the slow ancient tables.
 func (frdb *freezerdb) Close() error {
 	var errs []error
-	if err := frdb.KeyValueStore.Close(); err != nil {
+	if err := frdb.AncientStore.Close(); err != nil {
 		errs = append(errs, err)
 	}
-	if err := frdb.AncientStore.Close(); err != nil {
+	if err := frdb.KeyValueStore.Close(); err != nil {
 		errs = append(errs, err)
 	}
 	if len(errs) != 0 {
diff --git a/core/rawdb/freezer.go b/core/rawdb/freezer.go
index 5497c59d4..3d4dc680d 100644
--- a/core/rawdb/freezer.go
+++ b/core/rawdb/freezer.go
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ type freezer struct {
 
 	tables       map[string]*freezerTable // Data tables for storing everything
 	instanceLock fileutil.Releaser        // File-system lock to prevent double opens
+	quit         chan struct{}
 }
 
 // newFreezer creates a chain freezer that moves ancient chain data into
@@ -101,6 +102,7 @@ func newFreezer(datadir string, namespace string) (*freezer, error) {
 	freezer := &freezer{
 		tables:       make(map[string]*freezerTable),
 		instanceLock: lock,
+		quit:         make(chan struct{}),
 	}
 	for name, disableSnappy := range freezerNoSnappy {
 		table, err := newTable(datadir, name, readMeter, writeMeter, sizeGauge, disableSnappy)
@@ -126,6 +128,7 @@ func newFreezer(datadir string, namespace string) (*freezer, error) {
 
 // Close terminates the chain freezer, unmapping all the data files.
 func (f *freezer) Close() error {
+	f.quit <- struct{}{}
 	var errs []error
 	for _, table := range f.tables {
 		if err := table.Close(); err != nil {
@@ -254,35 +257,50 @@ func (f *freezer) Sync() error {
 func (f *freezer) freeze(db ethdb.KeyValueStore) {
 	nfdb := &nofreezedb{KeyValueStore: db}
 
+	backoff := false
 	for {
+		select {
+		case <-f.quit:
+			log.Info("Freezer shutting down")
+			return
+		default:
+		}
+		if backoff {
+			select {
+			case <-time.NewTimer(freezerRecheckInterval).C:
+				backoff = false
+			case <-f.quit:
+				return
+			}
+		}
 		// Retrieve the freezing threshold.
 		hash := ReadHeadBlockHash(nfdb)
 		if hash == (common.Hash{}) {
 			log.Debug("Current full block hash unavailable") // new chain, empty database
-			time.Sleep(freezerRecheckInterval)
+			backoff = true
 			continue
 		}
 		number := ReadHeaderNumber(nfdb, hash)
 		switch {
 		case number == nil:
 			log.Error("Current full block number unavailable", "hash", hash)
-			time.Sleep(freezerRecheckInterval)
+			backoff = true
 			continue
 
 		case *number < params.ImmutabilityThreshold:
 			log.Debug("Current full block not old enough", "number", *number, "hash", hash, "delay", params.ImmutabilityThreshold)
-			time.Sleep(freezerRecheckInterval)
+			backoff = true
 			continue
 
 		case *number-params.ImmutabilityThreshold <= f.frozen:
 			log.Debug("Ancient blocks frozen already", "number", *number, "hash", hash, "frozen", f.frozen)
-			time.Sleep(freezerRecheckInterval)
+			backoff = true
 			continue
 		}
 		head := ReadHeader(nfdb, hash, *number)
 		if head == nil {
 			log.Error("Current full block unavailable", "number", *number, "hash", hash)
-			time.Sleep(freezerRecheckInterval)
+			backoff = true
 			continue
 		}
 		// Seems we have data ready to be frozen, process in usable batches
@@ -369,7 +387,7 @@ func (f *freezer) freeze(db ethdb.KeyValueStore) {
 
 		// Avoid database thrashing with tiny writes
 		if f.frozen-first < freezerBatchLimit {
-			time.Sleep(freezerRecheckInterval)
+			backoff = true
 		}
 	}
 }