diff --git a/octavia/api/v1/controllers/load_balancer.py b/octavia/api/v1/controllers/load_balancer.py
index abb256b6b9..8af40659af 100644
--- a/octavia/api/v1/controllers/load_balancer.py
+++ b/octavia/api/v1/controllers/load_balancer.py
@@ -238,12 +238,12 @@ class LoadBalancersController(base.BaseController):
         """Deletes a load balancer."""
         context = pecan.request.context.get('octavia_context')
         db_lb = self._get_db_lb(context.session, id)
-        self._test_lb_status(context.session, id,
-                             lb_status=constants.PENDING_DELETE)
         if (db_lb.listeners or db_lb.pools) and not cascade:
             msg = _("Cannot delete Load Balancer %s - it has children") % id
-            LOG.exception(msg)
+            LOG.warning(msg)
             raise exceptions.ValidationException(detail=msg)
+        self._test_lb_status(context.session, id,
+                             lb_status=constants.PENDING_DELETE)
 
         try:
             LOG.info("Sending deleted Load Balancer %s to the handler",
diff --git a/octavia/api/v2/controllers/load_balancer.py b/octavia/api/v2/controllers/load_balancer.py
index c7227d4f82..227bf903f9 100644
--- a/octavia/api/v2/controllers/load_balancer.py
+++ b/octavia/api/v2/controllers/load_balancer.py
@@ -441,13 +441,13 @@ class LoadBalancersController(base.BaseController):
                                    constants.RBAC_DELETE)
 
         with db_api.get_lock_session() as lock_session:
-            self._test_lb_status(lock_session, id,
-                                 lb_status=constants.PENDING_DELETE)
             if (db_lb.listeners or db_lb.pools) and not cascade:
                 msg = _("Cannot delete Load Balancer %s - "
                         "it has children") % id
                 LOG.warning(msg)
                 raise exceptions.ValidationException(detail=msg)
+            self._test_lb_status(lock_session, id,
+                                 lb_status=constants.PENDING_DELETE)
 
         try:
             LOG.info("Sending deleted Load Balancer %s to the handler", id)