diff --git a/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/HMaster.java b/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/HMaster.java
index d47b83a0187..b2fdb6a0a2f 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/HMaster.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/HMaster.java
@@ -1208,6 +1208,7 @@ Server {
     }
 
     HRegionInfo [] newRegions = getHRegionInfos(hTableDescriptor, splitKeys);
+    checkInitialized();
     if (cpHost != null) {
       cpHost.preCreateTable(hTableDescriptor, newRegions);
     }