diff --git a/src/db.c b/src/db.c
index ec68c228c..40377ec3f 100644
--- a/src/db.c
+++ b/src/db.c
@@ -1541,14 +1541,17 @@ int expireIfNeeded(redisDb *db, robj *key) {
     if (checkClientPauseTimeoutAndReturnIfPaused()) return 1;
 
     /* Delete the key */
+    if (server.lazyfree_lazy_expire) {
+        dbAsyncDelete(db,key);
+    } else {
+        dbSyncDelete(db,key);
+    }
     server.stat_expiredkeys++;
     propagateExpire(db,key,server.lazyfree_lazy_expire);
     notifyKeyspaceEvent(NOTIFY_EXPIRED,
         "expired",key,db->id);
-    int retval = server.lazyfree_lazy_expire ? dbAsyncDelete(db,key) :
-                                               dbSyncDelete(db,key);
-    if (retval) signalModifiedKey(NULL,db,key);
-    return retval;
+    signalModifiedKey(NULL,db,key);
+    return 1;
 }
 
 /* -----------------------------------------------------------------------------