diff --git a/server/jetstream_cluster.go b/server/jetstream_cluster.go
index baf15307d52..bf2eadfab47 100644
--- a/server/jetstream_cluster.go
+++ b/server/jetstream_cluster.go
@@ -780,6 +780,9 @@ func (js *jetStream) setupMetaGroup() error {
 
 	// Setup our WAL for the metagroup.
 	sysAcc := s.SystemAccount()
+	if sysAcc == nil {
+		return ErrNoSysAccount
+	}
 	storeDir := filepath.Join(js.config.StoreDir, sysAcc.Name, defaultStoreDirName, defaultMetaGroupName)
 
 	js.srv.optsMu.RLock()