diff --git a/apps/emqx_plugin_libs/src/emqx_trace/emqx_trace.erl b/apps/emqx_plugin_libs/src/emqx_trace/emqx_trace.erl
index 95e705337..e51cc8113 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_plugin_libs/src/emqx_trace/emqx_trace.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_plugin_libs/src/emqx_trace/emqx_trace.erl
@@ -104,7 +104,10 @@ start_link() ->
 
 -spec list() -> [tuple()].
 list() ->
-    ets:match_object(?TRACE, #?TRACE{_ = '_'}).
+    case ets:info(?TRACE) of
+        undefined -> [];
+        _ -> ets:match_object(?TRACE, #?TRACE{_ = '_'})
+    end.
 
 -spec is_enable() -> boolean().
 is_enable() ->