diff --git a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/MetaTableAccessor.java b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/MetaTableAccessor.java
index f80bbc04663..5dc0565162c 100644
--- a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/MetaTableAccessor.java
+++ b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/MetaTableAccessor.java
@@ -1109,6 +1109,9 @@ public class MetaTableAccessor {
   @Nullable
   public static TableState getTableState(Connection conn, TableName tableName)
       throws IOException {
+    if (tableName.equals(TableName.META_TABLE_NAME)) {
+      return new TableState(tableName, TableState.State.ENABLED);
+    }
     Table metaHTable = getMetaHTable(conn);
     Get get = new Get(tableName.getName()).addColumn(getTableFamily(), getTableStateColumn());
     long time = EnvironmentEdgeManager.currentTime();