diff --git a/VersionedMap.cpp b/VersionedMap.cpp
index c4109ea..f90c552 100644
--- a/VersionedMap.cpp
+++ b/VersionedMap.cpp
@@ -1220,20 +1220,20 @@ VersionedMap::Iterator::operator*() const {
 
 void materializeMutations(VersionedMap::Iterator::Impl *impl,
                           const Entry *prev) {
-  if (prev == nullptr) {
-    Finger copy;
-    impl->finger.copyTo(copy);
-    impl->map->move<std::memory_order_acquire, false>(copy, impl->version);
-    if (copy.searchPathSize() > 0) {
-      prev = impl->map->mm.base[copy.backNode()].entry;
-    } else {
-      assert(!impl->map->mm.base[impl->finger.backNode()].entry->clearTo());
-    }
-  }
-
   const auto &entry = *impl->map->mm.base[impl->finger.backNode()].entry;
   impl->mutationCount = 0;
   if (entry.clearTo()) {
+    if (prev == nullptr) {
+      Finger copy;
+      impl->finger.copyTo(copy);
+      impl->map->move<std::memory_order_acquire, false>(copy, impl->version);
+      if (copy.searchPathSize() > 0) {
+        prev = impl->map->mm.base[copy.backNode()].entry;
+      } else {
+        assert(!impl->map->mm.base[impl->finger.backNode()].entry->clearTo());
+      }
+    }
+
     impl->mutations[impl->mutationCount++] = {
         prev->getKey(),
         entry.getKey(),