diff --git a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/regionserver/wal/FSHLog.java b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/regionserver/wal/FSHLog.java
index 168cbede97f..8fb8e83e00f 100644
--- a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/regionserver/wal/FSHLog.java
+++ b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/regionserver/wal/FSHLog.java
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ public class FSHLog extends AbstractFSWAL<Writer> {
     SyncFuture syncFuture = null;
     SafePointZigZagLatch zigzagLatch = null;
     long sequence = -1L;
-    if (this.ringBufferEventHandler != null) {
+    if (this.writer != null && this.ringBufferEventHandler != null) {
       // Get sequence first to avoid dead lock when ring buffer is full
       // Considering below sequence
       // 1. replaceWriter is called and zigzagLatch is initialized