diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/Destination.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/Destination.java
index 895e1ac..0a06093 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/Destination.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/Destination.java
@@ -501,11 +501,11 @@
       if (op.wasCanceled()) {
         return RunwayStatus.canceled();
       }
+      pending.remove(op.getURI());
       PushOne inFlightOp = inFlight.get(op.getURI());
       if (inFlightOp != null) {
         return RunwayStatus.denied(inFlightOp.getId());
       }
-      pending.remove(op.getURI());
       inFlight.put(op.getURI(), op);
     }
     return RunwayStatus.allowed();