diff --git a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/ClusterStatus.java b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/ClusterStatus.java
index 351b0c8305d..9c3cc73ea9c 100644
--- a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/ClusterStatus.java
+++ b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/ClusterStatus.java
@@ -296,7 +296,10 @@ public class ClusterStatus {
 
   @InterfaceAudience.Private
   public List<RegionState> getRegionsInTransition() {
-    return this.intransition;
+    if (intransition == null) {
+      return Collections.emptyList();
+    }
+    return Collections.unmodifiableList(intransition);
   }
 
   public String getClusterId() {