diff --git a/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/HBaseTestingUtility.java b/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/HBaseTestingUtility.java
index cb508f6beaf..10d8e1c6213 100644
--- a/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/HBaseTestingUtility.java
+++ b/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/HBaseTestingUtility.java
@@ -4003,8 +4003,11 @@ public class HBaseTestingUtility extends HBaseCommonTestingUtility {
 
       @Override
       public boolean evaluate() throws IOException {
-        final RegionStates regionStates = getMiniHBaseCluster().getMaster()
-            .getAssignmentManager().getRegionStates();
+        HMaster master = getMiniHBaseCluster().getMaster();
+        if (master == null) return false;
+        AssignmentManager am = master.getAssignmentManager();
+        if (am == null) return false;
+        final RegionStates regionStates = am.getRegionStates();
         return !regionStates.isRegionsInTransition();
       }
     };