diff --git a/server/storage/mvcc/watchable_store.go b/server/storage/mvcc/watchable_store.go
index c2a8832db1d0..4c657df391a7 100644
--- a/server/storage/mvcc/watchable_store.go
+++ b/server/storage/mvcc/watchable_store.go
@@ -355,8 +355,8 @@ func (s *watchableStore) syncWatchers() int {
 	tx := s.store.b.ReadTx()
 	tx.RLock()
 	revs, vs := tx.UnsafeRange(schema.Key, minBytes, maxBytes, 0)
-	tx.RUnlock()
 	evs := kvsToEvents(s.store.lg, wg, revs, vs)
+	tx.RUnlock()
 
 	victims := make(watcherBatch)
 	wb := newWatcherBatch(wg, evs)