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 3a487df1ef0..74ce20e69ff 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
@@ -1630,7 +1630,14 @@ public class HMaster extends HRegionServer implements MasterServices {
         for (RegionPlan plan: plans) {
           LOG.info("balance " + plan);
           //TODO: bulk assign
-          this.assignmentManager.moveAsync(plan);
+          try {
+            this.assignmentManager.moveAsync(plan);
+          } catch (HBaseIOException hioe) {
+            //should ignore failed plans here, avoiding the whole balance plans be aborted
+            //later calls of balance() can fetch up the failed and skipped plans
+            LOG.warn("Failed balance plan: {}, just skip it", plan, hioe);
+          }
+          //rpCount records balance plans processed, does not care if a plan succeeds
           rpCount++;
 
           balanceThrottling(balanceStartTime + rpCount * balanceInterval, maxRegionsInTransition,