diff --git a/pkg/ingester/flush.go b/pkg/ingester/flush.go
index e1b0e7b5d8..ed1c6cde65 100644
--- a/pkg/ingester/flush.go
+++ b/pkg/ingester/flush.go
@@ -191,17 +191,6 @@ func (i *Ingester) shouldFlushChunk(c *desc, fp model.Fingerprint) flushReason {
 		return noFlush
 	}
 
-	if i.cfg.SpreadFlushes {
-		now := model.Now()
-		// Map from the fingerprint hash to a fixed point in the cycle of period MaxChunkAge
-		startOfCycle := now.Add(-(now.Sub(model.Time(0)) % i.cfg.MaxChunkAge))
-		slot := startOfCycle.Add(time.Duration(fp) % i.cfg.MaxChunkAge)
-		// If that point is now, to the resolution of FlushCheckPeriod, flush the chunk.
-		if slot >= now && slot < now.Add(i.cfg.FlushCheckPeriod) {
-			return reasonAged
-		}
-		// If we missed the slot due to timing it will get caught by the MaxChunkAge check below, some time later.
-	}
 	// Adjust max age slightly to spread flushes out over time
 	var jitter time.Duration
 	if i.cfg.ChunkAgeJitter != 0 {
diff --git a/pkg/ingester/ingester.go b/pkg/ingester/ingester.go
index 5eacca7a7c..ee682ca7da 100644
--- a/pkg/ingester/ingester.go
+++ b/pkg/ingester/ingester.go
@@ -301,6 +301,16 @@ func (i *Ingester) append(ctx context.Context, labels labelPairs, timestamp mode
 	}()
 
 	prevNumChunks := len(series.chunkDescs)
+	if i.cfg.SpreadFlushes && prevNumChunks > 0 {
+		// Map from the fingerprint hash to a point in the cycle of period MaxChunkAge
+		startOfCycle := timestamp.Add(-(timestamp.Sub(model.Time(0)) % i.cfg.MaxChunkAge))
+		slot := startOfCycle.Add(time.Duration(uint64(fp) % uint64(i.cfg.MaxChunkAge)))
+		// If adding this sample means the head chunk will span that point in time, close so it will get flushed
+		if series.head().FirstTime < slot && timestamp >= slot {
+			series.closeHead()
+		}
+	}
+
 	if err := series.add(model.SamplePair{
 		Value:     value,
 		Timestamp: timestamp,
diff --git a/pkg/ingester/ingester_test.go b/pkg/ingester/ingester_test.go
index 3e3959a92d..5a7e80abda 100644
--- a/pkg/ingester/ingester_test.go
+++ b/pkg/ingester/ingester_test.go
@@ -145,13 +145,13 @@ func runTestQueryTimes(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, ing *Ingester, ty labe
 	return res, req, nil
 }
 
-func pushTestSamples(t *testing.T, ing *Ingester, numSeries, samplesPerSeries int) ([]string, map[string]model.Matrix) {
+func pushTestSamples(t *testing.T, ing *Ingester, numSeries, samplesPerSeries, offset int) ([]string, map[string]model.Matrix) {
 	userIDs := []string{"1", "2", "3"}
 
 	// Create test samples.
 	testData := map[string]model.Matrix{}
 	for i, userID := range userIDs {
-		testData[userID] = buildTestMatrix(numSeries, samplesPerSeries, i)
+		testData[userID] = buildTestMatrix(numSeries, samplesPerSeries, i+offset)
 	}
 
 	// Append samples.
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ func pushTestSamples(t *testing.T, ing *Ingester, numSeries, samplesPerSeries in
 
 func TestIngesterAppend(t *testing.T) {
 	store, ing := newDefaultTestStore(t)
-	userIDs, testData := pushTestSamples(t, ing, 10, 1000)
+	userIDs, testData := pushTestSamples(t, ing, 10, 1000, 0)
 
 	// Read samples back via ingester queries.
 	for _, userID := range userIDs {
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ func TestIngesterAppend(t *testing.T) {
 func TestIngesterSendsOnlySeriesWithData(t *testing.T) {
 	_, ing := newDefaultTestStore(t)
 
-	userIDs, _ := pushTestSamples(t, ing, 10, 1000)
+	userIDs, _ := pushTestSamples(t, ing, 10, 1000, 0)
 
 	// Read samples back via ingester queries.
 	for _, userID := range userIDs {
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ func TestIngesterIdleFlush(t *testing.T) {
 	cfg.RetainPeriod = 500 * time.Millisecond
 	store, ing := newTestStore(t, cfg, defaultClientTestConfig(), defaultLimitsTestConfig())
 
-	userIDs, testData := pushTestSamples(t, ing, 4, 100)
+	userIDs, testData := pushTestSamples(t, ing, 4, 100, 0)
 
 	// wait beyond idle time so samples flush
 	time.Sleep(cfg.MaxChunkIdle * 2)
@@ -251,6 +251,26 @@ func TestIngesterIdleFlush(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestIngesterSpreadFlush(t *testing.T) {
+	// Create test ingester with short flush cycle
+	cfg := defaultIngesterTestConfig()
+	cfg.SpreadFlushes = true
+	cfg.FlushCheckPeriod = 20 * time.Millisecond
+	store, ing := newTestStore(t, cfg, defaultClientTestConfig(), defaultLimitsTestConfig())
+
+	userIDs, testData := pushTestSamples(t, ing, 4, 100, 0)
+
+	// add another sample with timestamp at the end of the cycle to trigger
+	// head closes and get an extra chunk so we will flush the first one
+	_, _ = pushTestSamples(t, ing, 4, 1, int(cfg.MaxChunkAge.Seconds()-1)*1000)
+
+	// wait beyond flush time so first set of samples should be sent to store
+	time.Sleep(cfg.FlushCheckPeriod * 2)
+
+	// check the first set of samples has been sent to the store
+	store.checkData(t, userIDs, testData)
+}
+
 type stream struct {
 	grpc.ServerStream
 	ctx       context.Context
diff --git a/pkg/ingester/series.go b/pkg/ingester/series.go
index 023bef52d2..3c7bb72542 100644
--- a/pkg/ingester/series.go
+++ b/pkg/ingester/series.go
@@ -59,9 +59,7 @@ func newMemorySeries(m labels.Labels) *memorySeries {
 	}
 }
 
-// add adds a sample pair to the series. It returns the number of newly
-// completed chunks (which are now eligible for persistence).
-//
+// add adds a sample pair to the series, possibly creating a new chunk.
 // The caller must have locked the fingerprint of the series.
 func (s *memorySeries) add(v model.SamplePair) error {
 	// If sender has repeated the same timestamp, check more closely and perhaps return error.
diff --git a/pkg/ingester/user_state_test.go b/pkg/ingester/user_state_test.go
index a58a0eb161..5df173dcf1 100644
--- a/pkg/ingester/user_state_test.go
+++ b/pkg/ingester/user_state_test.go
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func TestForSeriesMatchingBatching(t *testing.T) {
 	} {
 		t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("numSeries=%d,batchSize=%d,matchers=%s", tc.numSeries, tc.batchSize, tc.matchers), func(t *testing.T) {
 			_, ing := newDefaultTestStore(t)
-			userIDs, _ := pushTestSamples(t, ing, tc.numSeries, 100)
+			userIDs, _ := pushTestSamples(t, ing, tc.numSeries, 100, 0)
 
 			for _, userID := range userIDs {
 				ctx := user.InjectOrgID(context.Background(), userID)