diff --git a/lib/fileOperations.js b/lib/fileOperations.js
index 4c194d4d..7446e10b 100644
--- a/lib/fileOperations.js
+++ b/lib/fileOperations.js
@@ -102,26 +102,26 @@ function updateMetadata(fd, file, callback) {
       return callback(err, fd);
     }
 
+    // Set file.stat to the reflect current state on disk
+    assign(file.stat, stat);
+
+    // Check access, `futimes` and `fchmod` only work if we own the file,
+    // or if we are effectively root.
+    if (!isOwner(stat)) {
+      return callback(null, fd);
+    }
+
     // Check if mode needs to be updated
     var modeDiff = getModeDiff(stat.mode, file.stat.mode);
 
     // Check if atime/mtime need to be updated
     var timesDiff = getTimesDiff(stat, file.stat);
 
-    // Set file.stat to the reflect current state on disk
-    assign(file.stat, stat);
-
     // Nothing to do
     if (!modeDiff && !timesDiff) {
       return callback(null, fd);
     }
 
-    // Check access, `futimes` and `fchmod` only work if we own the file,
-    // or if we are effectively root.
-    if (!isOwner(stat)) {
-      return callback(null, fd);
-    }
-
     if (modeDiff) {
       return mode();
     }