diff --git a/pkg/jobs/jobsprotectedts/jobs_protected_ts_manager.go b/pkg/jobs/jobsprotectedts/jobs_protected_ts_manager.go
index 037222de2243..65dbcd472015 100644
--- a/pkg/jobs/jobsprotectedts/jobs_protected_ts_manager.go
+++ b/pkg/jobs/jobsprotectedts/jobs_protected_ts_manager.go
@@ -192,6 +192,7 @@ func (p *Manager) Protect(
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	return func(ctx context.Context) error {
+		// Remove the protected timestamp.
 		return p.Unprotect(ctx, job)
 	}, nil
 }
@@ -201,19 +202,23 @@ func (p *Manager) Protect(
 // record. Note: This should only be used for job cleanup if is not currently,
 // executing.
 func (p *Manager) Unprotect(ctx context.Context, job *jobs.Job) error {
-	return p.db.Txn(ctx, func(ctx context.Context, txn *kv.Txn) error {
-		// Fetch the protected timestamp UUID from the job, if one exists.
-		protectedtsID := getProtectedTSOnJob(job.Details())
+	// Fetch the protected timestamp UUID from the job, if one exists.
+	if getProtectedTSOnJob(job.Details()) == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	// If we do find one then we need to clean up the protected timestamp,
+	// and remove it from the job.
+	return job.Update(ctx, nil, func(txn *kv.Txn, md jobs.JobMetadata, ju *jobs.JobUpdater) error {
+		// The job will get refreshed, so check one more time the protected
+		// timestamp still exists. The callback returned from Protect works
+		// on a previously cached copy.
+		protectedtsID := getProtectedTSOnJob(md.Payload.UnwrapDetails())
 		if protectedtsID == nil {
 			return nil
 		}
-		// If we do find one then we need to clean up the protected timestamp,
-		// and remove it from the job.
-		return job.Update(ctx, txn, func(txn *kv.Txn, md jobs.JobMetadata, ju *jobs.JobUpdater) error {
-			updatedDetails := setProtectedTSOnJob(job.Details(), nil)
-			md.Payload.Details = jobspb.WrapPayloadDetails(updatedDetails)
-			ju.UpdatePayload(md.Payload)
-			return p.protectedTSProvider.Release(ctx, txn, *protectedtsID)
-		})
+		updatedDetails := setProtectedTSOnJob(job.Details(), nil)
+		md.Payload.Details = jobspb.WrapPayloadDetails(updatedDetails)
+		ju.UpdatePayload(md.Payload)
+		return p.protectedTSProvider.Release(ctx, txn, *protectedtsID)
 	})
 }