diff --git a/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/regionserver/SplitTransaction.java b/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/regionserver/SplitTransaction.java
index 145c5b78024..1bcde8cc8bf 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/regionserver/SplitTransaction.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/regionserver/SplitTransaction.java
@@ -181,7 +181,8 @@ class SplitTransaction {
       final RegionServerServices services)
   throws IOException {
     LOG.info("Starting split of region " + this.parent);
-    if (server.isStopped() || services.isStopping()) {
+    if ((server != null && server.isStopped()) ||
+        (services != null && services.isStopping())) {
       throw new IOException("Server is stopped or stopping");
     }
     assert !this.parent.lock.writeLock().isHeldByCurrentThread() : "Unsafe to hold write lock while performing RPCs";