diff --git a/app/models/queued_post.rb b/app/models/queued_post.rb
index 6ca1a599b4..6bbff2a053 100644
--- a/app/models/queued_post.rb
+++ b/app/models/queued_post.rb
@@ -64,6 +64,10 @@ class QueuedPost < ActiveRecord::Base
     QueuedPost.transaction do
       change_to!(:approved, approved_by)
 
+      if user.blocked?
+        user.update_columns(blocked: false)
+      end
+
       creator = PostCreator.new(user, create_options.merge(skip_validations: true))
       created_post = creator.create
 
@@ -71,9 +75,6 @@ class QueuedPost < ActiveRecord::Base
         raise StandardError, "Failed to create post #{raw[0..100]} #{creator.errors}"
       end
 
-      if user.blocked?
-        user.update_columns(blocked: false)
-      end
     end
 
     DiscourseEvent.trigger(:approved_post, self)