diff --git a/pkg/cover/instrument.go b/pkg/cover/instrument.go
index 63a007d..4484ecd 100644
--- a/pkg/cover/instrument.go
+++ b/pkg/cover/instrument.go
@@ -208,11 +208,10 @@ func registerSelf(address string) ([]byte, error) {
 		log.Printf("[goc][WARN]error occurred:%v, try again", err)
 		resp, err = http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
 	}
-	defer resp.Body.Close()
-
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to register into coverage center, err:%v", err)
 	}
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
 
 	body, err := ioutil.ReadAll(resp.Body)
 	if err != nil {