diff --git a/core/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/runtime/shutdown/ShutdownRecorder.java b/core/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/runtime/shutdown/ShutdownRecorder.java
index ace0f19deb298..6c969598473b7 100644
--- a/core/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/runtime/shutdown/ShutdownRecorder.java
+++ b/core/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/runtime/shutdown/ShutdownRecorder.java
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ public void setListeners(List<ShutdownListener> listeners, boolean delayEnabled)
     }
 
     public static void runShutdown() {
+        if (shutdownListeners == null) { // when QUARKUS_INIT_AND_EXIT is used, ShutdownRecorder#setListeners has not been called
+            return;
+        }
         log.debug("Attempting to gracefully shutdown.");
         try {
             executePreShutdown();