diff --git a/src/server.c b/src/server.c
index 4964ff14..3e508e9a 100644
--- a/src/server.c
+++ b/src/server.c
@@ -777,6 +777,11 @@ void activeExpireCycle(int type) {
     int dbs_per_call = CRON_DBS_PER_CALL;
     long long start = ustime(), timelimit;
 
+    /* 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) {
         /* Don't start a fast cycle if the previous cycle did not exited
          * for time limt. Also don't repeat a fast cycle for the same period
@@ -3464,6 +3469,11 @@ int freeMemoryIfNeeded(void) {
     int slaves = listLength(server.slaves);
     mstime_t latency, eviction_latency;
 
+    /* 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;
+
     /* Remove the size of slaves output buffers and AOF buffer from the
      * count of used memory. */
     mem_used = zmalloc_used_memory();