diff --git a/britney2/policies/autopkgtest.py b/britney2/policies/autopkgtest.py
index 8f9655e..6cb37ae 100644
--- a/britney2/policies/autopkgtest.py
+++ b/britney2/policies/autopkgtest.py
@@ -339,6 +339,13 @@ class AutopkgtestPolicy(BasePolicy):
 
         return valid_version
 
+    def save_pending_json(self):
+        # update the pending tests on-disk cache
+        self.logger.info('Updating pending requested tests in %s' % self.pending_tests_file)
+        with open(self.pending_tests_file + '.new', 'w') as f:
+            json.dump(self.pending_tests, f, indent=2)
+        os.rename(self.pending_tests_file + '.new', self.pending_tests_file)
+
     def save_state(self, britney):
         super().save_state(britney)
 
@@ -352,11 +359,7 @@ class AutopkgtestPolicy(BasePolicy):
                 json.dump(test_results, f, indent=2)
             os.rename(self.results_cache_file + '.new', self.results_cache_file)
 
-        # update the pending tests on-disk cache
-        self.logger.info('Updating pending requested tests in %s', self.pending_tests_file)
-        with open(self.pending_tests_file + '.new', 'w') as f:
-            json.dump(self.pending_tests, f, indent=2)
-        os.rename(self.pending_tests_file + '.new', self.pending_tests_file)
+        self.save_pending_json()
 
     def apply_src_policy_impl(self, tests_info, item, source_data_tdist, source_data_srcdist, excuse):
         # initialize
@@ -1043,6 +1046,8 @@ class AutopkgtestPolicy(BasePolicy):
             arch_list.append(arch)
             arch_list.sort()
             self.send_test_request(src, arch, full_trigger, huge=huge)
+            # save pending.json right away, so that we don't re-request if britney crashes
+            self.save_pending_json()
 
     def result_in_baseline(self, src, arch):
         '''Get the result for src on arch in the baseline