diff --git a/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/SQLContext.scala b/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/SQLContext.scala
index d336fde4f4a96..587ba1ea058a2 100644
--- a/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/SQLContext.scala
+++ b/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/SQLContext.scala
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ class SQLContext private[sql](
   }
 
   /** A [[FunctionResourceLoader]] that can be used in SessionCatalog. */
-  protected[sql] lazy val functionResourceLoader: FunctionResourceLoader = {
+  @transient protected[sql] lazy val functionResourceLoader: FunctionResourceLoader = {
     new FunctionResourceLoader {
       override def loadResource(resource: FunctionResource): Unit = {
         resource.resourceType match {