diff --git a/src/Compilation.zig b/src/Compilation.zig
index 8cc930b0371823399595547127b13236a8ff41c4..a82cf46fd85ce6b1c67d00d313785f3db5b4b5e4 100644
--- a/src/Compilation.zig
+++ b/src/Compilation.zig
@@ -3230,16 +3230,16 @@ pub fn update(comp: *Compilation, main_progress_node: std.Progress.Node) UpdateE
             // cache manifest must not be written.
             if (anyErrors(comp)) return;
 
+            if (comp.bin_file) |lf| {
+                lf.destroy();
+                comp.bin_file = null;
+            }
+
             // Failure here only means an unnecessary cache miss.
             man.writeManifest() catch |err| {
                 log.warn("failed to write cache manifest: {s}", .{@errorName(err)});
             };
 
-            if (comp.bin_file) |lf| {
-                lf.destroy();
-                comp.bin_file = null;
-            }
-
             assert(whole.lock == null);
             whole.lock = man.toOwnedLock();
         },