diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/pleg/generic.go b/pkg/kubelet/pleg/generic.go
index f6d65f0b636..8e447f0ef85 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/pleg/generic.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/pleg/generic.go
@@ -186,8 +186,6 @@ func (g *GenericPLEG) relist() {
 	}
 
 	timestamp := g.clock.Now()
-	// Update the relist time.
-	g.updateRelisTime(timestamp)
 	defer func() {
 		metrics.PLEGRelistLatency.Observe(metrics.SinceInMicroseconds(timestamp))
 	}()
@@ -198,6 +196,10 @@ func (g *GenericPLEG) relist() {
 		glog.Errorf("GenericPLEG: Unable to retrieve pods: %v", err)
 		return
 	}
+
+	// Update the relist time.
+	g.updateRelisTime(timestamp)
+
 	pods := kubecontainer.Pods(podList)
 	g.podRecords.setCurrent(pods)