diff --git a/src/switch_core.c b/src/switch_core.c
index 2b689067a0..9d23f5b5a5 100644
--- a/src/switch_core.c
+++ b/src/switch_core.c
@@ -398,6 +398,8 @@ SWITCH_DECLARE(switch_status_t) switch_core_init(const char *console, const char
 	switch_uuid_t uuid;
 	memset(&runtime, 0, sizeof(runtime));
 
+	runtime.no_new_sessions = 1;
+
 	/* INIT APR and Create the pool context */
 	if (apr_initialize() != SWITCH_STATUS_SUCCESS) {
 		*err = "FATAL ERROR! Could not initilize APR\n";
@@ -577,6 +579,9 @@ SWITCH_DECLARE(switch_status_t) switch_core_init_and_modload(const char *console
 					  "\nFreeSWITCH Version %s Started.\nCrash Protection [%s]\nMax Sessions[%u]\n\n", SWITCH_VERSION_FULL, 
 					  runtime.crash_prot ? "Enabled" : "Disabled",
 					  switch_core_session_limit(0));
+
+	runtime.no_new_sessions = 0;
+
 	return SWITCH_STATUS_SUCCESS;
 
 }
diff --git a/src/switch_core_session.c b/src/switch_core_session.c
index e8043fede8..ffc9b2e4ed 100644
--- a/src/switch_core_session.c
+++ b/src/switch_core_session.c
@@ -767,7 +767,10 @@ SWITCH_DECLARE(switch_core_session_t *) switch_core_session_request(const switch
 	switch_uuid_t uuid;
 	uint32_t count = 0;
 
-	assert(endpoint_interface != NULL);
+	if (!switch_core_ready() || endpoint_interface == NULL) {
+		switch_log_printf(SWITCH_CHANNEL_LOG, SWITCH_LOG_CRIT, "The system cannot create any sessions at this time.\n");
+		return NULL;
+	}
 
 	switch_mutex_lock(session_manager.session_table_mutex);
 	count = session_manager.session_count;
@@ -778,11 +781,6 @@ SWITCH_DECLARE(switch_core_session_t *) switch_core_session_request(const switch
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
-	if (!switch_core_ready()) {
-		switch_log_printf(SWITCH_CHANNEL_LOG, SWITCH_LOG_CRIT, "Read my lips: no new sessions!\n");
-		return NULL;
-	}
-
 	if (pool && *pool) {
 		usepool = *pool;
 		*pool = NULL;