diff --git a/cmd/syncthing/main.go b/cmd/syncthing/main.go
index 47cf7702f..9f60f70ce 100644
--- a/cmd/syncthing/main.go
+++ b/cmd/syncthing/main.go
@@ -403,9 +403,11 @@ func upgradeViaRest() error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
+
 	if resp.StatusCode != 200 {
 		bs, err := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
-		defer resp.Body.Close()
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}