diff --git a/libpod/sql_state.go b/libpod/sql_state.go
index 5248ee87a1..9d457c3ec2 100644
--- a/libpod/sql_state.go
+++ b/libpod/sql_state.go
@@ -511,6 +511,10 @@ func (s *SQLState) SaveContainer(ctr *Container) error {
                           NetNSPath=?
                        WHERE Id=?;`
 
+	if !ctr.valid {
+		return ErrCtrRemoved
+	}
+
 	netNSPath := ""
 	if ctr.state.NetNS != nil {
 		netNSPath = ctr.state.NetNS.Path()
@@ -520,10 +524,6 @@ func (s *SQLState) SaveContainer(ctr *Container) error {
 		return ErrDBClosed
 	}
 
-	if !ctr.valid {
-		return ErrCtrRemoved
-	}
-
 	tx, err := s.db.Begin()
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrapf(err, "error beginning database transaction")