diff --git a/sstable/reader.go b/sstable/reader.go
index d86a424f98..9766ce95ff 100644
--- a/sstable/reader.go
+++ b/sstable/reader.go
@@ -571,6 +571,7 @@ func (r *Reader) readBlock(
 			int(bh.Length+blockTrailerLen), readDuration.String())
 	}
 	if stats != nil {
+		stats.BlockBytes += bh.Length
 		stats.BlockReadDuration += readDuration
 	}
 	if err != nil {
@@ -628,9 +629,6 @@ func (r *Reader) readBlock(
 		decompressed = transformed
 	}
 
-	if stats != nil {
-		stats.BlockBytes += bh.Length
-	}
 	if decompressed.buf.Valid() {
 		return bufferHandle{b: decompressed.buf}, nil
 	}