diff --git a/themes/bootstrap3/js/lightbox.js b/themes/bootstrap3/js/lightbox.js
index 6f2ae9782c1168ba8087b1b2207b03835d5b89a8..37a5a9352b16aa10a50e42eb6f4efb715b7822ec 100644
--- a/themes/bootstrap3/js/lightbox.js
+++ b/themes/bootstrap3/js/lightbox.js
@@ -203,9 +203,9 @@ VuFind.register('lightbox', function Lightbox() {
       }
       _lightboxTitle = $(this).data('lightboxTitle') || '';
       _modalParams = $(this).data();
+      VuFind.modal('show');
       ajax(obj);
       _currentUrl = this.href;
-      VuFind.modal('show');
       return false;
     }
   };