diff --git a/src/share/classes/javax/management/StandardEmitterMBean.java b/src/share/classes/javax/management/StandardEmitterMBean.java
index dcebb48d895a1051ea9089235f4b69901f7681a4..a7ac7a11b67f9a715be42341ba87f2a0dce94079 100644
--- a/src/share/classes/javax/management/StandardEmitterMBean.java
+++ b/src/share/classes/javax/management/StandardEmitterMBean.java
@@ -258,6 +258,11 @@ public class StandardEmitterMBean extends StandardMBean
     }
 
     public MBeanNotificationInfo[] getNotificationInfo() {
+        // this getter might get called from the super constructor
+        // when the notificationInfo has not been properly set yet
+        if (notificationInfo == null) {
+            return NO_NOTIFICATION_INFO;
+        }
         if (notificationInfo.length == 0) {
             return notificationInfo;
         } else {