diff --git a/models/importers/key_importer.py b/models/importers/key_importer.py
index 1fe35f08ca..2b4934d40a 100644
--- a/models/importers/key_importer.py
+++ b/models/importers/key_importer.py
@@ -102,16 +102,20 @@ class KeyImporter(base.ImporterFromGoogleCloudStorage):
       total += shard.keys_processed
     return [(self.tpkd_machine_name, total, 0)]

-  @db.transactional(xg=True)
   def update_key_counters(self):
     """ Updates the key counters for this importer's TPKD if they haven't already
     been updated. This method should only be called after the importer's work is
     done."""
     if not self.updated_key_counters:
-      for tpkd_machine_name, total, redeemed in self.get_key_counter_update_data():
-        ThirdPartyKeys.increment_key_counter(tpkd_machine_name, total, redeemed)
-      self.updated_key_counters = True
-      self.put()
+      counter_update_data = self.get_key_counter_update_data()
+      self._update_key_counters(counter_update_data)
+
+  @db.transactional(xg=True)
+  def _update_key_counters(self, counter_update_data):
+    for tpkd_machine_name, total, redeemed in counter_update_data:
+      ThirdPartyKeys.increment_key_counter(tpkd_machine_name, total, redeemed)
+    self.updated_key_counters = True
+    self.put()


 class KeyImporterShard(base.ImporterShard):