diff --git a/lib/scenic/adapters/postgres.rb b/lib/scenic/adapters/postgres.rb
index ba1fb4e1..cc626a4d 100644
--- a/lib/scenic/adapters/postgres.rb
+++ b/lib/scenic/adapters/postgres.rb
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ def refresh_materialized_view(name, concurrently: false, cascade: false)
           refresh_dependencies_for(name, concurrently: concurrently)
         end
 
-        if concurrently
+        if concurrently && populated?(name)
           raise_unless_concurrent_refresh_supported
           execute "REFRESH MATERIALIZED VIEW CONCURRENTLY #{quote_table_name(name)};"
         else