diff --git a/modules/logging/filewriter.go b/modules/logging/filewriter.go
index eed9c10f4..c14cf4607 100644
--- a/modules/logging/filewriter.go
+++ b/modules/logging/filewriter.go
@@ -172,14 +172,14 @@ func (fw FileWriter) OpenWriter() (io.WriteCloser, error) {
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
+		info, err := f_tmp.Stat()
 		f_tmp.Close()
 
-		// ensure already existing files have the right mode,
+		// Ensure already existing files have the right mode,
 		// since OpenFile will not set the mode in such case.
-		// only chmod if the mode needs to be changed, however
-		info, err := f_tmp.Stat()
 		if err == nil {
 			desiredMode := os.FileMode(fw.Mode)
+			// only chmod if the mode needs to be changed
 			if info.Mode()&os.ModePerm != desiredMode&os.ModePerm {
 				if err = os.Chmod(fw.Filename, desiredMode); err != nil {
 					return nil, err