diff --git a/src/collector/expire.c b/src/collector/expire.c
index 7002c61a..01e83623 100644
--- a/src/collector/expire.c
+++ b/src/collector/expire.c
@@ -619,10 +619,10 @@ void ExpireProfile(channel_t *channel, dirstat_t *current_stat, uint64_t maxsize
                     // decrement number of files seen in this directory
                     expire_channel->ftsent->fts_number--;
 
-                    file_removed = 1;
                 } else {
                     LogError("unlink() error in %s line %d: %s\n", __FILE__, __LINE__, strerror(errno));
                 }
+                file_removed = 1;
             } else {
                 // we are done size-wise
                 // time of first file not expired = start time of channel/profile
@@ -647,10 +647,10 @@ void ExpireProfile(channel_t *channel, dirstat_t *current_stat, uint64_t maxsize
                     // decrement number of files seen in this directory
                     expire_channel->ftsent->fts_number--;
 
-                    file_removed = 1;
                 } else {
                     LogError("unlink() error in %s line %d: %s\n", __FILE__, __LINE__, strerror(errno));
                 }
+                file_removed = 1;
             } else {
                 // we are done time-wise
                 // time of first file not expired = start time of channel/profile