diff --git a/meta2v2/meta2_backend.c b/meta2v2/meta2_backend.c
index 4ffaf0631a..83ed9a4664 100644
--- a/meta2v2/meta2_backend.c
+++ b/meta2v2/meta2_backend.c
@@ -1481,9 +1481,12 @@ meta2_backend_generate_beans(struct meta2_backend_s *m2b,
 	 * This call may return an open database. */
 	m2b_get_prepare_data(m2b, url, &pdata, &sq3);
 
-	if ((m2b->flag_precheck_on_generate &&
-			VERSIONS_DISABLED(pdata.max_versions)) ||
-			(oio_ns_mode_worm && !oio_ext_is_admin())) {
+	gboolean must_check_alias = m2b->flag_precheck_on_generate && (
+			 VERSIONS_DISABLED(pdata.max_versions) ||
+			(VERSIONS_SUSPENDED(pdata.max_versions) &&
+			 oio_ns_mode_worm &&
+			 !oio_ext_is_admin()));
+	if (must_check_alias) {
 		err = m2b_open_if_needed(m2b, url,
 				_mode_masterslave(0)|M2V2_OPEN_ENABLED, &sq3);
 		if (!err) {
diff --git a/meta2v2/meta2_utils.c b/meta2v2/meta2_utils.c
index 3bf1fae8e2..ad4dc6ab01 100644
--- a/meta2v2/meta2_utils.c
+++ b/meta2v2/meta2_utils.c
@@ -1522,10 +1522,6 @@ GError* m2db_put_alias(struct m2db_put_args_s *args, GSList *beans,
 
 	/* Check the operation respects the rules of versioning for the container */
 	if (latest) {
-		if (args->worm_mode) {
-			err = NEWERROR(CODE_CONTENT_EXISTS, "NS wormed! Cannot overwrite.");
-		}
-
 		if (VERSIONS_DISABLED(max_versions)) {
 			if (ALIASES_get_deleted(latest) || ALIASES_get_version(latest) > 0) {
 				GRID_DEBUG("Versioning DISABLED but clues of SUSPENDED");
@@ -1536,6 +1532,11 @@ GError* m2db_put_alias(struct m2db_put_args_s *args, GSList *beans,
 		}
 		else if (VERSIONS_SUSPENDED(max_versions)) {
 suspended:
+			if (args->worm_mode) {
+				err = NEWERROR(CODE_CONTENT_EXISTS,
+						"NS wormed! Cannot overwrite.");
+			}
+
 			// JFS: do not alter the size to manage the alias being removed,
 			// this will be done by the real purge of the latest.
 			purge_latest = TRUE;