diff --git a/synapse/app/synctl.py b/synapse/app/synctl.py
index e85073b06bfbd6e26043320572470edbc752be55..abe055a64ce80468e076286014b806d32cdce255 100755
--- a/synapse/app/synctl.py
+++ b/synapse/app/synctl.py
@@ -56,8 +56,8 @@ def main():
     elif action == "stop":
         stop()
     elif action == "restart":
-        start()
         stop()
+        start()
     else:
         sys.stderr.write("Usage: %s [start|stop|restart]\n" % (sys.argv[0],))
         sys.exit(1)