diff --git a/src/tools/rbd_mirror/ImageSync.cc b/src/tools/rbd_mirror/ImageSync.cc
index f71dfdd6e57..2c6f5aa58f7 100644
--- a/src/tools/rbd_mirror/ImageSync.cc
+++ b/src/tools/rbd_mirror/ImageSync.cc
@@ -166,8 +166,6 @@ void ImageSync<I>::send_copy_image() {
     return;
   }
 
-  update_progress("COPY_IMAGE");
-
   CephContext *cct = m_local_image_ctx->cct;
   ldout(cct, 20) << dendl;
 
@@ -179,6 +177,8 @@ void ImageSync<I>::send_copy_image() {
     ctx, m_progress_ctx);
   m_lock.Unlock();
 
+  update_progress("COPY_IMAGE");
+
   m_image_copy_request->send();
 }