diff --git a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/balancer/BaseLoadBalancer.java b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/balancer/BaseLoadBalancer.java
index 114aee45f51..6cca59fa783 100644
--- a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/balancer/BaseLoadBalancer.java
+++ b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/balancer/BaseLoadBalancer.java
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.master.LoadBalancer;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.master.MasterServices;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.master.RackManager;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.master.RegionPlan;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.master.assignment.RegionStates;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.master.balancer.BaseLoadBalancer.Cluster.Action.Type;
 import org.apache.hbase.thirdparty.com.google.common.annotations.VisibleForTesting;
 import org.apache.hbase.thirdparty.com.google.common.base.Joiner;
@@ -1457,8 +1458,9 @@ public abstract class BaseLoadBalancer implements LoadBalancer {
       // In the current set of regions even if one has region replica let us go with
       // getting the entire snapshot
       if (this.services != null && this.services.getAssignmentManager() != null) { // for tests
-        if (!hasRegionReplica && this.services.getAssignmentManager().getRegionStates()
-            .isReplicaAvailableForRegion(region)) {
+        RegionStates states = this.services.getAssignmentManager().getRegionStates();
+        if (!hasRegionReplica && states != null &&
+            states.isReplicaAvailableForRegion(region)) {
           hasRegionReplica = true;
         }
       }