diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/storage/BlockManager.scala b/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/storage/BlockManager.scala
index 5048c7dab240b..1beafa1771448 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/storage/BlockManager.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/storage/BlockManager.scala
@@ -83,8 +83,10 @@ private[spark] class BlockManager(
   private var externalBlockStoreInitialized = false
   private[spark] val memoryStore = new MemoryStore(this, maxMemory)
   private[spark] val diskStore = new DiskStore(this, diskBlockManager)
-  private[spark] lazy val externalBlockStore: ExternalBlockStore =
+  private[spark] lazy val externalBlockStore: ExternalBlockStore = {
+    externalBlockStoreInitialized = true
     new ExternalBlockStore(this, executorId)
+  }
 
   private[spark]
   val externalShuffleServiceEnabled = conf.getBoolean("spark.shuffle.service.enabled", false)