diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/status/AppStatusStore.scala b/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/status/AppStatusStore.scala
index d7f5ac8d3dbc9..a4fa256b18adb 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/status/AppStatusStore.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/status/AppStatusStore.scala
@@ -519,7 +519,13 @@ private[spark] class AppStatusStore(
   }
 
   def appSummary(): AppSummary = {
-    store.read(classOf[AppSummary], classOf[AppSummary].getName())
+    try {
+      store.read(classOf[AppSummary], classOf[AppSummary].getName())
+    } catch {
+      case _: NoSuchElementException =>
+        throw new NoSuchElementException("Failed to get the application summary. " +
+          "If you are starting up Spark, please wait a while until it's ready.")
+    }
   }
 
   def close(): Unit = {