diff --git a/go/vt/topo/tablet.go b/go/vt/topo/tablet.go
index fcdce3195b7..10ba787a3c1 100644
--- a/go/vt/topo/tablet.go
+++ b/go/vt/topo/tablet.go
@@ -495,9 +495,9 @@ func (ts *Server) GetTabletMap(ctx context.Context, tabletAliases []*topodatapb.
 		wg.Add(1)
 		go func(tabletAlias *topodatapb.TabletAlias) {
 			defer wg.Done()
+			tabletInfo, err := ts.GetTablet(ctx, tabletAlias)
 			mu.Lock()
 			defer mu.Unlock()
-			tabletInfo, err := ts.GetTablet(ctx, tabletAlias)
 			if err != nil {
 				log.Warningf("%v: %v", tabletAlias, err)
 				// There can be data races removing nodes - ignore them for now.