diff --git a/solr/core/src/java/org/apache/solr/update/SolrCmdDistributor.java b/solr/core/src/java/org/apache/solr/update/SolrCmdDistributor.java
index 611123118c6..3c68870ab3e 100644
--- a/solr/core/src/java/org/apache/solr/update/SolrCmdDistributor.java
+++ b/solr/core/src/java/org/apache/solr/update/SolrCmdDistributor.java
@@ -202,8 +202,8 @@ public class SolrCmdDistributor {
       return;
     }
     
-    SolrServer solrServer = servers.getSolrServer(req);
     try {
+      SolrServer solrServer = servers.getSolrServer(req);
       NamedList<Object> rsp = solrServer.request(req.uReq);
     } catch (Exception e) {
       SolrException.log(log, e);