diff --git a/glance/api/v1/images.py b/glance/api/v1/images.py
index 9bedf20..2684454 100644
--- a/glance/api/v1/images.py
+++ b/glance/api/v1/images.py
@@ -738,10 +738,10 @@ class Controller(controller.BaseController):
         # to delete the image if the backend doesn't yet store it.
         # See https://bugs.launchpad.net/glance/+bug/747799
         try:
+            registry.delete_image_metadata(req.context, id)
             if image['location']:
                 schedule_delete_from_backend(image['location'], self.conf,
                                              req.context, id)
-            registry.delete_image_metadata(req.context, id)
         except exception.NotFound, e:
             msg = ("Failed to find image to delete: %(e)s" % locals())
             for line in msg.split('\n'):