diff --git a/src/main/java/org/jvnet/hudson/test/RealJenkinsRule.java b/src/main/java/org/jvnet/hudson/test/RealJenkinsRule.java
index 224fc8dd7..2640b50a5 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/jvnet/hudson/test/RealJenkinsRule.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/jvnet/hudson/test/RealJenkinsRule.java
@@ -1345,7 +1345,9 @@ public static final class CustomJenkinsRule extends JenkinsRule implements AutoC
         public CustomJenkinsRule(URL url) throws Exception {
             this.jenkins = Jenkins.get();
             this.url = url;
-            jenkins.setNoUsageStatistics(true); // cannot use JenkinsRule._configureJenkinsForTest earlier because it tries to save config before loaded
+            if (jenkins.isUsageStatisticsCollected()) {
+                jenkins.setNoUsageStatistics(true); // cannot use JenkinsRule._configureJenkinsForTest earlier because it tries to save config before loaded
+            }
             if (JenkinsLocationConfiguration.get().getUrl() == null) {
                 JenkinsLocationConfiguration.get().setUrl(url.toExternalForm());
             }