diff --git a/fe/fe-core/src/main/java/org/apache/doris/datasource/ExternalTable.java b/fe/fe-core/src/main/java/org/apache/doris/datasource/ExternalTable.java
index ce3220a05f..a84f637cd2 100644
--- a/fe/fe-core/src/main/java/org/apache/doris/datasource/ExternalTable.java
+++ b/fe/fe-core/src/main/java/org/apache/doris/datasource/ExternalTable.java
@@ -297,6 +297,14 @@ public class ExternalTable implements TableIf, Writable, GsonPostProcessable {
 
     @Override
     public long getRowCount() {
+        // Return 0 if makeSureInitialized throw exception.
+        // For example, init hive table may throw NotSupportedException.
+        try {
+            makeSureInitialized();
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            LOG.warn("Failed to initialize table {}.{}.{}", catalog.name, dbName, name, e);
+            return 0;
+        }
         // All external table should get external row count from cache.
         return Env.getCurrentEnv().getExtMetaCacheMgr().getRowCountCache().getCachedRowCount(catalog.getId(), dbId, id);
     }