diff --git a/ReactAndroid/src/main/java/com/facebook/react/views/modal/ReactModalHostView.java b/ReactAndroid/src/main/java/com/facebook/react/views/modal/ReactModalHostView.java
index 82be75a4377fc9..b8046f5da76c21 100644
--- a/ReactAndroid/src/main/java/com/facebook/react/views/modal/ReactModalHostView.java
+++ b/ReactAndroid/src/main/java/com/facebook/react/views/modal/ReactModalHostView.java
@@ -120,7 +120,9 @@ public void addView(View child, int index) {
 
   @Override
   public int getChildCount() {
-    return mHostView.getChildCount();
+    // This method may be called by the parent constructor
+    // before mHostView is initialized.
+    return mHostView == null ? 0 : mHostView.getChildCount();
   }
 
   @Override