Index: hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/HMaster.java =================================================================== --- hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/HMaster.java (revision 1369721) +++ hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/HMaster.java (working copy) @@ -1229,6 +1229,11 @@ } public boolean balance() { + // if master not initialized, don't run balancer. + if (!this.initialized) { + LOG.debug("Master not yet initialized to run balancer."); + return false; + } // If balance not true, don't run balancer. if (!this.balanceSwitch) return false; // Do this call outside of synchronized block.