diff --git a/src/rgw/rgw_period_history.cc b/src/rgw/rgw_period_history.cc
index 895700f6897..1f0dbee1cd0 100644
--- a/src/rgw/rgw_period_history.cc
+++ b/src/rgw/rgw_period_history.cc
@@ -137,6 +137,8 @@ RGWPeriodHistory::Impl::Impl(CephContext* cct, Puller* puller,
 
     // get a cursor to the current period
     current_cursor = make_cursor(current_history, current_period.get_realm_epoch());
+  } else {
+    current_history = histories.end();
   }
 }