diff --git a/app/vmalert/main.go b/app/vmalert/main.go
index 775f756b2e..e0ed4ce2d8 100644
--- a/app/vmalert/main.go
+++ b/app/vmalert/main.go
@@ -284,13 +284,13 @@ func configReload(ctx context.Context, m *manager, groupsCfg []config.Group, sig
 			// config didn't change - skip it
 			continue
 		}
-		groupsCfg = newGroupsCfg
-		if err := m.update(ctx, groupsCfg, false); err != nil {
+		if err := m.update(ctx, newGroupsCfg, false); err != nil {
 			configReloadErrors.Inc()
 			configSuccess.Set(0)
 			logger.Errorf("error while reloading rules: %s", err)
 			continue
 		}
+		groupsCfg = newGroupsCfg
 		configSuccess.Set(1)
 		configTimestamp.Set(fasttime.UnixTimestamp())
 		logger.Infof("Rules reloaded successfully from %q", *rulePath)