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 aa2213043b2..dcab9f42dbb 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
@@ -2729,11 +2729,21 @@ public class HMaster extends HRegionServer implements MasterServices {
     }
   }
 
-  void checkInitialized()
-      throws PleaseHoldException, ServerNotRunningYetException, MasterNotRunningException {
+  public static class MasterStoppedException extends DoNotRetryIOException {
+    MasterStoppedException() {
+      super();
+    }
+  }
+
+  void checkInitialized() throws PleaseHoldException, ServerNotRunningYetException,
+      MasterNotRunningException, MasterStoppedException {
     checkServiceStarted();
-    if (!isInitialized()) throw new PleaseHoldException("Master is initializing");
-    if (isStopped()) throw new MasterNotRunningException();
+    if (!isInitialized()) {
+      throw new PleaseHoldException("Master is initializing");
+    }
+    if (isStopped()) {
+      throw new MasterStoppedException();
+    }
   }
 
   /**