diff --git a/src/backend/access/nbtree/nbtutils.c b/src/backend/access/nbtree/nbtutils.c
index 08d7201f19..3b8865331a 100644
--- a/src/backend/access/nbtree/nbtutils.c
+++ b/src/backend/access/nbtree/nbtutils.c
@@ -1858,7 +1858,17 @@ _bt_killitems(IndexScanDesc scan)
 			else if (ItemPointerEquals(&ituple->t_tid, &kitem->heapTid))
 				killtuple = true;
 
-			if (killtuple)
+			/*
+			 * Mark index item as dead, if not yet.  Since killing dead
+			 * index items can be performed while holding a buffer lock
+			 * in share mode, it's possible that concurrent processes
+			 * attempt to kill the same index item simultaneously, which
+			 * in turn leads to write multiple full-page writes for hintbit.
+			 * Checking if the index item is already marked as dead will
+			 * help with reducing the likelihood of having multiple
+			 * full-page writes.
+			 */
+			if (killtuple && !ItemIdIsDead(iid))
 			{
 				/* found the item/all posting list items */
 				ItemIdMarkDead(iid);