diff --git a/vms/rpcchainvm/vm_client.go b/vms/rpcchainvm/vm_client.go
index c5a358df8ed..05add90700d 100644
--- a/vms/rpcchainvm/vm_client.go
+++ b/vms/rpcchainvm/vm_client.go
@@ -156,10 +156,6 @@ func (vm *VMClient) Initialize(
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := chainCtx.Metrics.Register("", vm); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	// Initialize the database
 	dbServerListener, err := grpcutils.NewListener()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -229,6 +225,10 @@ func (vm *VMClient) Initialize(
 		return err
 	}
 
+	if err := chainCtx.Metrics.Register("", vm); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	id, err := ids.ToID(resp.LastAcceptedId)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err