diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/gateway/GatewayMetaState.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/gateway/GatewayMetaState.java
index 2160d9cff7853..fecbc51ac6bc8 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/gateway/GatewayMetaState.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/gateway/GatewayMetaState.java
@@ -107,9 +107,10 @@ private void initializeClusterState(ClusterName clusterName) throws IOException
     }
 
     public void setLocalNode(DiscoveryNode localNode) {
-            previousClusterState = ClusterState.builder(previousClusterState)
-                    .nodes(DiscoveryNodes.builder().add(localNode).localNodeId(localNode.getId()).build())
-                    .build();
+        assert previousClusterState.nodes().getLocalNode() == null : "setLocalNode must only be called once";
+        previousClusterState = ClusterState.builder(previousClusterState)
+                .nodes(DiscoveryNodes.builder().add(localNode).localNodeId(localNode.getId()).build())
+                .build();
     }
 
     protected void upgradeMetaData(MetaDataIndexUpgradeService metaDataIndexUpgradeService, MetaDataUpgrader metaDataUpgrader)
@@ -195,7 +196,7 @@ public long getCurrentTerm() {
 
     @Override
     public ClusterState getLastAcceptedState() {
-        assert previousClusterState.nodes().getSize() > 0 : "Call setLocalNode before calling this method";
+        assert previousClusterState.nodes().getLocalNode() != null : "Call setLocalNode before calling this method";
         return previousClusterState;
     }