diff --git a/salt/states/pkg.py b/salt/states/pkg.py
index 8c5e322fc6..4f26d11851 100644
--- a/salt/states/pkg.py
+++ b/salt/states/pkg.py
@@ -1228,10 +1228,7 @@ def installed(
                                               reinstall=reinstall,
                                               normalize=normalize,
                                               **kwargs)
-
             refreshed = refreshed or refresh
-            if os.path.isfile(rtag) and refreshed:
-                os.remove(rtag)
         except CommandExecutionError as exc:
             ret = {'name': name,
                    'changes': {},
@@ -1287,6 +1284,9 @@ def installed(
                         failed_hold = [hold_ret[x] for x in hold_ret
                                        if not hold_ret[x]['result']]
 
+    if os.path.isfile(rtag) and refreshed:
+        os.remove(rtag)
+
     if to_unpurge:
         changes['purge_desired'] = __salt__['lowpkg.unpurge'](*to_unpurge)