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 276902e4de1d..63f4029b1f60 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 @@ protected void doReplaceWriter(Path oldPath, Path newPath, Writer nextWriter) th
     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