diff --git a/ReactAndroid/src/main/java/com/facebook/react/uimanager/ThemedReactContext.java b/ReactAndroid/src/main/java/com/facebook/react/uimanager/ThemedReactContext.java
index e061c11345b..2ec10d0a22e 100644
--- a/ReactAndroid/src/main/java/com/facebook/react/uimanager/ThemedReactContext.java
+++ b/ReactAndroid/src/main/java/com/facebook/react/uimanager/ThemedReactContext.java
@@ -30,7 +30,9 @@ public class ThemedReactContext extends ReactContext {
 
   public ThemedReactContext(ReactApplicationContext reactApplicationContext, Context base) {
     super(base);
-    initializeWithInstance(reactApplicationContext.getCatalystInstance());
+    if (reactApplicationContext.hasActiveCatalystInstance()) {
+      initializeWithInstance(reactApplicationContext.getCatalystInstance());
+    }
     mReactApplicationContext = reactApplicationContext;
   }