diff --git a/devstack/upgrade/upgrade.sh b/devstack/upgrade/upgrade.sh
index ea36e52d25..78c7946bff 100755
--- a/devstack/upgrade/upgrade.sh
+++ b/devstack/upgrade/upgrade.sh
@@ -101,11 +101,11 @@ fi
 
 $IRONIC_BIN_DIR/ironic-dbsync --config-file=$IRONIC_CONF_FILE
 
-start_ironic
-
 # calls upgrade-ironic for specific release
 upgrade_project ironic $RUN_DIR $BASE_DEVSTACK_BRANCH $TARGET_DEVSTACK_BRANCH
 
+start_ironic
+
 # Don't succeed unless the services come up
 ensure_services_started ironic-api ironic-conductor
 ensure_logs_exist ir-cond ir-api