diff --git a/migration/ram.c b/migration/ram.c
index ba228eead4..73e5ca93e5 100644
--- a/migration/ram.c
+++ b/migration/ram.c
@@ -1896,13 +1896,14 @@ int ram_write_tracking_start(void)
                 block->max_length, UFFDIO_REGISTER_MODE_WP, NULL)) {
             goto fail;
         }
+        block->flags |= RAM_UF_WRITEPROTECT;
+        memory_region_ref(block->mr);
+
         /* Apply UFFD write protection to the block memory range */
         if (uffd_change_protection(rs->uffdio_fd, block->host,
                 block->max_length, true, false)) {
             goto fail;
         }
-        block->flags |= RAM_UF_WRITEPROTECT;
-        memory_region_ref(block->mr);
 
         trace_ram_write_tracking_ramblock_start(block->idstr, block->page_size,
                 block->host, block->max_length);