diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/describe.rb b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/describe.rb
index 5ef02a03a84d..8d0b8c4342cb 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/describe.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/describe.rb
@@ -44,12 +44,19 @@ def command(table)
           puts
         end
         formatter.footer
-        puts
-        formatter.header(%w[QUOTAS])
-        count = quotas_admin.list_quotas(TABLE => table.to_s) do |_, quota|
-          formatter.row([quota])
+        if admin.exists?(::HBaseQuotasConstants::QUOTA_TABLE_NAME.to_s)
+          if table.to_s != 'hbase:meta'
+            # No QUOTAS if hbase:meta table
+            puts
+            formatter.header(%w[QUOTAS])
+            count = quotas_admin.list_quotas(TABLE => table.to_s) do |_, quota|
+              formatter.row([quota])
+            end
+            formatter.footer(count)
+          end
+        else
+          puts 'Quota is disabled'
         end
-        formatter.footer(count)
       end
       # rubocop:enable Metrics/AbcSize, Metrics/MethodLength
     end