diff --git a/storage/writer.go b/storage/writer.go
index 91229f148a6..3a6a1ce0f56 100644
--- a/storage/writer.go
+++ b/storage/writer.go
@@ -176,7 +176,6 @@ func (w *Writer) openWriter() (err error) {
 
 	isIdempotent := w.o.conds != nil && (w.o.conds.GenerationMatch >= 0 || w.o.conds.DoesNotExist == true)
 	opts := makeStorageOpts(isIdempotent, w.o.retry, w.o.userProject)
-	go w.monitorCancel()
 	params := &openWriterParams{
 		ctx:                w.ctx,
 		chunkSize:          w.ChunkSize,
@@ -191,11 +190,15 @@ func (w *Writer) openWriter() (err error) {
 		progress:           w.progress,
 		setObj:             func(o *ObjectAttrs) { w.obj = o },
 	}
+	if err := w.ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return err // short-circuit
+	}
 	w.pw, err = w.o.c.tc.OpenWriter(params, opts...)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	w.opened = true
+	go w.monitorCancel()
 
 	return nil
 }