diff --git a/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/list.go b/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/list.go
index eaef3b9ba..0b6cdf702 100644
--- a/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/list.go
+++ b/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/list.go
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ func selectNFromBucket(bkt *bbolt.Bucket, // main bucket
 		}
 
 		expEpoch, hasExpEpoch := hasExpirationEpoch(&o)
-		if !objectLocked(bkt.Tx(), cnt, obj) && hasExpEpoch && expEpoch < currEpoch {
+		if hasExpEpoch && expEpoch < currEpoch && !objectLocked(bkt.Tx(), cnt, obj) {
 			continue
 		}