diff --git a/openhtf/output/servers/station_server.py b/openhtf/output/servers/station_server.py
index 690edd523..756f0bf39 100644
--- a/openhtf/output/servers/station_server.py
+++ b/openhtf/output/servers/station_server.py
@@ -453,10 +453,12 @@ def get(self):
 
     history_items = []
 
+    if self.history_path is None:
+      raise ValueError('history_path is None, try calling initialize() first')
+
     for file_name in os.listdir(self.history_path):
       if not file_name.endswith('.pb'):
         continue
-
       if not os.path.isfile(os.path.join(self.history_path, file_name)):
         continue