diff --git a/Libraries/Geolocation/RCTLocationObserver.m b/Libraries/Geolocation/RCTLocationObserver.m
index 9f9d57aa247f7d..6ea912e45c1db4 100644
--- a/Libraries/Geolocation/RCTLocationObserver.m
+++ b/Libraries/Geolocation/RCTLocationObserver.m
@@ -130,7 +130,6 @@ - (void)beginLocationUpdates
     _locationManager = [CLLocationManager new];
     _locationManager.distanceFilter = RCT_DEFAULT_LOCATION_ACCURACY;
     _locationManager.delegate = self;
-    _pendingRequests = [NSMutableArray new];
   }
 
   // Request location access permission
@@ -234,6 +233,9 @@ - (void)timeout:(NSTimer *)timer
                                                         selector:@selector(timeout:)
                                                         userInfo:request
                                                          repeats:NO];
+  if (!_pendingRequests) {
+    _pendingRequests = [NSMutableArray new];
+  }
   [_pendingRequests addObject:request];
 
   // Configure location manager and begin updating location