diff --git a/stores/metadata.go b/stores/metadata.go
index 744261150..4d8b6e097 100644
--- a/stores/metadata.go
+++ b/stores/metadata.go
@@ -2748,12 +2748,12 @@ func (s *SQLStore) pruneSlabsLoop() {
 			})
 		} else {
 			s.alerts.DismissAlerts(s.shutdownCtx, pruneSlabsAlertID)
+
+			s.mu.Lock()
+			s.lastPrunedAt = time.Now()
+			s.mu.Unlock()
 		}
 		cancel()
-
-		s.mu.Lock()
-		s.lastPrunedAt = time.Now()
-		s.mu.Unlock()
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/stores/metadata_test.go b/stores/metadata_test.go
index 9ecd56422..aa12e3fb8 100644
--- a/stores/metadata_test.go
+++ b/stores/metadata_test.go
@@ -1219,13 +1219,10 @@ func TestSQLMetadataStore(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// Remove the first slab of the object.
-	ts := time.Now()
 	obj1.Slabs = obj1.Slabs[1:]
 	fullObj, err = ss.addTestObject(objID, obj1)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
-	} else if err := ss.waitForPruneLoop(ts); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
 	} else if !reflect.DeepEqual(*fullObj.Object, obj1) {
 		t.Fatal("object mismatch")
 	}