diff --git a/Lib/bsddb/__init__.py b/Lib/bsddb/__init__.py
index d5ab000..90ed362 100644
--- a/Lib/bsddb/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/bsddb/__init__.py
@@ -343,8 +343,8 @@
             e.set_cachesize(0, cachesize)
         else:
             raise error, "cachesize must be >= 20480"
-    e.open('.', db.DB_PRIVATE | db.DB_CREATE | db.DB_THREAD | db.DB_INIT_LOCK | db.DB_INIT_MPOOL)
     e.set_lk_detect(db.DB_LOCK_DEFAULT)
+    e.open('.', db.DB_PRIVATE | db.DB_CREATE | db.DB_THREAD | db.DB_INIT_LOCK | db.DB_INIT_MPOOL)
     return e
 
 def _checkflag(flag, file):