What is happening to summoning circle?

When we have more than 1 per map, we find a rune to activate and redo the summoning altar. But when you found the rune first than the altar, the rune destroys the altar and you lose all circles on that map.
Is it supposed to happen?
Its very unfun to be running the entire map looking for the altar and then go back to where was the rune to activate it again :s