diff --git a/be/src/exec/hdfs-scan-node.cc b/be/src/exec/hdfs-scan-node.cc
index d7fb6ff..2c6f2af 100644
--- a/be/src/exec/hdfs-scan-node.cc
+++ b/be/src/exec/hdfs-scan-node.cc
@@ -744,6 +744,10 @@ bool HdfsScanNode::EnoughMemoryForScannerThread(bool new_thread) {
 }
 
 void HdfsScanNode::ThreadTokenAvailableCb(ThreadResourceMgr::ResourcePool* pool) {
+  // We have not issued the initial ranges so don't start a scanner thread. Issuing
+  // ranges will call this function and we'll start the scanner threads then.
+  if (!initial_ranges_issued_) return;
+
   // This is called to start up new scanner threads. It's not a big deal if we
   // spin up more than strictly necessary since they will go through and terminate
   // promptly. However, we want to minimize that by checking a conditions.