diff --git a/go/apps/api/routes/v2_keys_verify_key/handler.go b/go/apps/api/routes/v2_keys_verify_key/handler.go
index 729895bcc5..617ad7fa61 100644
--- a/go/apps/api/routes/v2_keys_verify_key/handler.go
+++ b/go/apps/api/routes/v2_keys_verify_key/handler.go
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@ func (h *Handler) Handle(ctx context.Context, s *zen.Session) error {
 	}
 
 	key, emit, err := h.Keys.Get(ctx, s, req.Key)
-	defer emit()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -262,6 +261,8 @@ func (h *Handler) Handle(ctx context.Context, s *zen.Session) error {
 		}
 	}
 
+	emit()
+
 	return s.JSON(http.StatusOK, Response{
 		Meta: openapi.Meta{
 			RequestId: s.RequestID(),