diff --git a/src/librbd/internal.cc b/src/librbd/internal.cc
index b69e40bbbdb..0b788136b0d 100644
--- a/src/librbd/internal.cc
+++ b/src/librbd/internal.cc
@@ -1913,25 +1913,29 @@ reprotect_and_return_err:
     if (r < 0)
       return r;
 
-    ictx->md_lock.Lock();
-    r = ictx_refresh(ictx);
-    ictx->md_lock.Unlock();
-    if (r < 0)
-      return r;
-
-    _snap_set(ictx, ictx->snap_name.c_str());
-
     if (!ictx->read_only) {
       r = ictx->register_watch();
       if (r < 0) {
 	lderr(ictx->cct) << "error registering a watch: " << cpp_strerror(r)
 			 << dendl;
-	close_image(ictx);
-	return r;
+	goto err_close;
       }
     }
 
+    ictx->md_lock.Lock();
+    r = ictx_refresh(ictx);
+    ictx->md_lock.Unlock();
+    if (r < 0)
+      goto err_close;
+
+    if ((r = _snap_set(ictx, ictx->snap_name.c_str())) < 0)
+      goto err_close;
+
     return 0;
+
+  err_close:
+    close_image(ictx);
+    return r;
   }
 
   void close_image(ImageCtx *ictx)