diff --git a/go/vt/vttablet/onlineddl/executor.go b/go/vt/vttablet/onlineddl/executor.go
index 5ac7f98e8f6..38d5981e7c9 100644
--- a/go/vt/vttablet/onlineddl/executor.go
+++ b/go/vt/vttablet/onlineddl/executor.go
@@ -863,7 +863,6 @@ func (e *Executor) cutOverVReplMigration(ctx context.Context, s *VReplStream) er
 	defer lockConn.Exec(ctx, sqlUnlockTables, 1, false)
 
 	renameCompleteChan := make(chan error)
-	defer close(renameCompleteChan)
 	renameWasSuccessful := false
 	renameConn, err := e.pool.Get(ctx, nil)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -972,6 +971,7 @@ func (e *Executor) cutOverVReplMigration(ctx context.Context, s *VReplStream) er
 
 		e.updateMigrationStage(ctx, onlineDDL.UUID, "renaming tables")
 		go func() {
+			defer close(renameCompleteChan)
 			_, err := renameConn.Exec(ctx, renameQuery.Query, 1, false)
 			renameCompleteChan <- err
 		}()