diff --git a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/HMaster.java b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/HMaster.java
index 8d12cfb6119..3ecd9374374 100644
--- a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/HMaster.java
+++ b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/HMaster.java
@@ -2147,7 +2147,7 @@ MasterServices, Server {
    * @return true if we should proceed with abort operation, false other wise.
    */
   private boolean abortNow(final String msg, final Throwable t) {
-    if (!this.isActiveMaster) {
+    if (!this.isActiveMaster || this.stopped) {
       return true;
     }
     if (t != null && t instanceof KeeperException.SessionExpiredException) {