diff --git a/server/base/src/main/java/org/apache/accumulo/server/util/ServerKeywordExecutable.java b/server/base/src/main/java/org/apache/accumulo/server/util/ServerKeywordExecutable.java
index 0c406f24e0c..04251f250df 100644
--- a/server/base/src/main/java/org/apache/accumulo/server/util/ServerKeywordExecutable.java
+++ b/server/base/src/main/java/org/apache/accumulo/server/util/ServerKeywordExecutable.java
@@ -31,14 +31,17 @@
 public abstract class ServerKeywordExecutable<OPTS extends ServerOpts>
     extends BaseKeywordExecutable<OPTS> {
 
-  private final ServerContext context;
+  private ServerContext context;
 
   public ServerKeywordExecutable(OPTS options) {
     super(options);
-    context = new ServerContext(SiteConfiguration.auto());
   }
 
-  public ServerContext getServerContext() {
+  public synchronized ServerContext getServerContext() {
+    if (context == null) {
+      context = new ServerContext(SiteConfiguration.auto());
+    }
+
     if (context.isClosed()) {
       throw new IllegalStateException(
           "Cannot use context after execute method has completed. Context is closed.");