diff --git a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/mapreduce/CopyTable.java b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/mapreduce/CopyTable.java
index f7374c98e0d..984f3b544c9 100644
--- a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/mapreduce/CopyTable.java
+++ b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/mapreduce/CopyTable.java
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ public class CopyTable extends Configured implements Tool {
             "peer address must be specified");
         return false;
       }
-      if (startTime > endTime) {
+      if ((endTime != 0) && (startTime > endTime)) {
         printUsage("Invalid time range filter: starttime=" + startTime + " >  endtime=" + endTime);
         return false;
       }