diff --git a/src/rgw/rgw_rados.cc b/src/rgw/rgw_rados.cc
index 0bbbf177b7a..03cc1ebfdb3 100644
--- a/src/rgw/rgw_rados.cc
+++ b/src/rgw/rgw_rados.cc
@@ -875,6 +875,14 @@ int RGWRados::init_complete()
 {
   int ret;
 
+  if (need_watch_notify()) {
+    ret = init_watch();
+    if (ret < 0) {
+      lderr(cct) << "ERROR: failed to initialize watch" << dendl;
+      return ret;
+    }
+  }
+
   ret = region.init(cct, this);
   if (ret < 0)
     return ret;
@@ -912,14 +920,6 @@ int RGWRados::init_complete()
     }
   }
 
-  if (need_watch_notify()) {
-    ret = init_watch();
-    if (ret < 0) {
-      lderr(cct) << "ERROR: failed to initialize watch" << dendl;
-      return ret;
-    }
-  }
-
   map<string, RGWZone>::iterator ziter;
   for (ziter = region.zones.begin(); ziter != region.zones.end(); ++ziter) {
     const string& name = ziter->first;