diff --git a/source/dnode/mnode/impl/src/mndStb.c b/source/dnode/mnode/impl/src/mndStb.c
index 903181282a..cfac5d0a61 100644
--- a/source/dnode/mnode/impl/src/mndStb.c
+++ b/source/dnode/mnode/impl/src/mndStb.c
@@ -870,7 +870,7 @@ static int32_t mndCreateStb(SMnode *pMnode, SRpcMsg *pReq, SMCreateStbReq *pCrea
   sprintf(fullIdxName, "%s.%s_default", pDb->name, pSchema->name);
 
   SSIdx idx = {0};
-  if (mndAcquireGlobalIdx(pMnode, fullIdxName, SDB_IDX, &idx) == 0) {
+  if (mndAcquireGlobalIdx(pMnode, fullIdxName, SDB_IDX, &idx) == 0 && idx.pIdx != NULL) {
     terrno = TSDB_CODE_MND_TAG_INDEX_ALREADY_EXIST;
     mndReleaseIdx(pMnode, idx.pIdx);
     goto _OVER;