diff --git a/src/rgw/rgw_rados.cc b/src/rgw/rgw_rados.cc
index 0698941bd67..354ed78ea8a 100644
--- a/src/rgw/rgw_rados.cc
+++ b/src/rgw/rgw_rados.cc
@@ -703,7 +703,7 @@ int RGWRealm::create(bool exclusive)
     return ret;
   }
   // create the control object for watch/notify
-  ret = create_control();
+  ret = create_control(exclusive);
   if (ret < 0) {
     ldout(cct, 0) << "ERROR creating control for new realm " << name << ": " << cpp_strerror(-ret) << dendl;
     return ret;
@@ -753,12 +753,12 @@ int RGWRealm::delete_obj()
   return delete_control();
 }
 
-int RGWRealm::create_control()
+int RGWRealm::create_control(bool exclusive)
 {
   auto pool_name = get_pool_name(cct);
   auto pool = rgw_bucket{pool_name.c_str()};
   auto oid = get_control_oid();
-  return rgw_put_system_obj(store, pool, oid, nullptr, 0, true,
+  return rgw_put_system_obj(store, pool, oid, nullptr, 0, exclusive,
                             nullptr, real_time(), nullptr);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/rgw/rgw_rados.h b/src/rgw/rgw_rados.h
index a1aa8194021..e26592174f3 100644
--- a/src/rgw/rgw_rados.h
+++ b/src/rgw/rgw_rados.h
@@ -1301,7 +1301,7 @@ class RGWRealm : public RGWSystemMetaObj
   string current_period;
   epoch_t epoch{0}; //< realm epoch, incremented for each new period
 
-  int create_control();
+  int create_control(bool exclusive);
   int delete_control();
 public:
   RGWRealm() {}