diff --git a/source/extensions/clusters/redis/redis_cluster_lb.cc b/source/extensions/clusters/redis/redis_cluster_lb.cc
index fefd17fff2fc..b4f3b1d06a2c 100644
--- a/source/extensions/clusters/redis/redis_cluster_lb.cc
+++ b/source/extensions/clusters/redis/redis_cluster_lb.cc
@@ -75,6 +75,11 @@ void RedisClusterLoadBalancerFactory::onHostHealthUpdate() {
     current_shard_vector = shard_vector_;
   }
 
+  // This can get called by cluster initialization before the Redis Cluster topology is resolved.
+  if (!current_shard_vector) {
+    return;
+  }
+
   auto shard_vector = std::make_shared<std::vector<RedisShardSharedPtr>>();
 
   for (auto const& shard : *current_shard_vector) {
diff --git a/test/extensions/clusters/redis/redis_cluster_lb_test.cc b/test/extensions/clusters/redis/redis_cluster_lb_test.cc
index dedcf8e51ec8..5e0ae78de9b2 100644
--- a/test/extensions/clusters/redis/redis_cluster_lb_test.cc
+++ b/test/extensions/clusters/redis/redis_cluster_lb_test.cc
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ class RedisClusterLoadBalancerTest : public testing::Test {
     factory_ = std::make_shared<RedisClusterLoadBalancerFactory>(random_);
     lb_ = std::make_unique<RedisClusterThreadAwareLoadBalancer>(factory_);
     lb_->initialize();
+    factory_->onHostHealthUpdate();
   }
 
   void validateAssignment(Upstream::HostVector& hosts,