diff --git a/cmd/generic-handlers.go b/cmd/generic-handlers.go
index 347112921..0a15a2ba8 100644
--- a/cmd/generic-handlers.go
+++ b/cmd/generic-handlers.go
@@ -175,12 +175,20 @@ func setBrowserRedirectHandler(h http.Handler) http.Handler {
 	return browserRedirectHandler{handler: h}
 }
 
+func shouldProxy() bool {
+	if newObjectLayerFn() == nil {
+		return true
+	}
+	return !globalIAMSys.Initialized()
+}
+
 func (h redirectHandler) ServeHTTP(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-	switch {
-	case guessIsRPCReq(r), guessIsBrowserReq(r), guessIsHealthCheckReq(r), guessIsMetricsReq(r), isAdminReq(r):
+	if guessIsRPCReq(r) || guessIsBrowserReq(r) ||
+		guessIsHealthCheckReq(r) || guessIsMetricsReq(r) || isAdminReq(r) {
 		h.handler.ServeHTTP(w, r)
 		return
-	case newObjectLayerFn() == nil:
+	}
+	if shouldProxy() {
 		// if this server is still initializing, proxy the request
 		// to any other online servers to avoid 503 for any incoming
 		// API calls.
diff --git a/cmd/healthcheck-handler.go b/cmd/healthcheck-handler.go
index 159a787a6..785de682b 100644
--- a/cmd/healthcheck-handler.go
+++ b/cmd/healthcheck-handler.go
@@ -30,14 +30,14 @@ const unavailable = "offline"
 func ClusterCheckHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	ctx := newContext(r, w, "ClusterCheckHandler")
 
-	objLayer := newObjectLayerFn()
-	// Service not initialized yet
-	if objLayer == nil {
+	if shouldProxy() {
 		w.Header().Set(xhttp.MinIOServerStatus, unavailable)
 		writeResponse(w, http.StatusServiceUnavailable, nil, mimeNone)
 		return
 	}
 
+	objLayer := newObjectLayerFn()
+
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, globalAPIConfig.getClusterDeadline())
 	defer cancel()
 
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ func ClusterCheckHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 
 // ReadinessCheckHandler Checks if the process is up. Always returns success.
 func ReadinessCheckHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-	if newObjectLayerFn() == nil {
+	if shouldProxy() {
 		// Service not initialized yet
 		w.Header().Set(xhttp.MinIOServerStatus, unavailable)
 	}
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ func ReadinessCheckHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 
 // LivenessCheckHandler - Checks if the process is up. Always returns success.
 func LivenessCheckHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-	if newObjectLayerFn() == nil {
+	if shouldProxy() {
 		// Service not initialized yet
 		w.Header().Set(xhttp.MinIOServerStatus, unavailable)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/iam.go b/cmd/iam.go
index c7500dc9a..cd5fa8b40 100644
--- a/cmd/iam.go
+++ b/cmd/iam.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"math/rand"
 	"strings"
+	"sync"
 	"time"
 
 	humanize "github.com/dustin/go-humanize"
@@ -201,6 +202,8 @@ func newMappedPolicy(policy string) MappedPolicy {
 
 // IAMSys - config system.
 type IAMSys struct {
+	sync.Mutex
+
 	usersSysType UsersSysType
 
 	// map of policy names to policy definitions
@@ -282,7 +285,7 @@ type IAMStorageAPI interface {
 // simplifies the implementation for group removal. This is called
 // only via IAM notifications.
 func (sys *IAMSys) LoadGroup(objAPI ObjectLayer, group string) error {
-	if objAPI == nil || sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -323,7 +326,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) LoadGroup(objAPI ObjectLayer, group string) error {
 
 // LoadPolicy - reloads a specific canned policy from backend disks or etcd.
 func (sys *IAMSys) LoadPolicy(objAPI ObjectLayer, policyName string) error {
-	if objAPI == nil || sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -341,7 +344,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) LoadPolicy(objAPI ObjectLayer, policyName string) error {
 // LoadPolicyMapping - loads the mapped policy for a user or group
 // from storage into server memory.
 func (sys *IAMSys) LoadPolicyMapping(objAPI ObjectLayer, userOrGroup string, isGroup bool) error {
-	if objAPI == nil || sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -367,7 +370,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) LoadPolicyMapping(objAPI ObjectLayer, userOrGroup string, isG
 
 // LoadUser - reloads a specific user from backend disks or etcd.
 func (sys *IAMSys) LoadUser(objAPI ObjectLayer, accessKey string, userType IAMUserType) error {
-	if objAPI == nil || sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -391,7 +394,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) LoadUser(objAPI ObjectLayer, accessKey string, userType IAMUs
 
 // LoadServiceAccount - reloads a specific service account from backend disks or etcd.
 func (sys *IAMSys) LoadServiceAccount(accessKey string) error {
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -415,6 +418,9 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) doIAMConfigMigration(ctx context.Context) error {
 
 // InitStore initializes IAM stores
 func (sys *IAMSys) InitStore(objAPI ObjectLayer) {
+	sys.Lock()
+	defer sys.Unlock()
+
 	if globalEtcdClient == nil {
 		sys.store = newIAMObjectStore(objAPI)
 	} else {
@@ -426,6 +432,16 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) InitStore(objAPI ObjectLayer) {
 	}
 }
 
+// Initialized check if IAM is initialized
+func (sys *IAMSys) Initialized() bool {
+	if sys == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	sys.Lock()
+	defer sys.Unlock()
+	return sys.store != nil
+}
+
 // Init - initializes config system by reading entries from config/iam
 func (sys *IAMSys) Init(ctx context.Context, objAPI ObjectLayer) {
 	retryCtx, cancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
@@ -512,7 +528,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) Init(ctx context.Context, objAPI ObjectLayer) {
 
 // DeletePolicy - deletes a canned policy from backend or etcd.
 func (sys *IAMSys) DeletePolicy(policyName string) error {
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -564,7 +580,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) DeletePolicy(policyName string) error {
 
 // InfoPolicy - expands the canned policy into its JSON structure.
 func (sys *IAMSys) InfoPolicy(policyName string) (iampolicy.Policy, error) {
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return iampolicy.Policy{}, errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -581,7 +597,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) InfoPolicy(policyName string) (iampolicy.Policy, error) {
 
 // ListPolicies - lists all canned policies.
 func (sys *IAMSys) ListPolicies() (map[string]iampolicy.Policy, error) {
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return nil, errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -608,7 +624,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) ListPolicies() (map[string]iampolicy.Policy, error) {
 
 // SetPolicy - sets a new name policy.
 func (sys *IAMSys) SetPolicy(policyName string, p iampolicy.Policy) error {
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -629,7 +645,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) SetPolicy(policyName string, p iampolicy.Policy) error {
 
 // DeleteUser - delete user (only for long-term users not STS users).
 func (sys *IAMSys) DeleteUser(accessKey string) error {
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -678,13 +694,14 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) DeleteUser(accessKey string) error {
 	return err
 }
 
-// returns comma separated policy string, from an input policy
-// after validating if there are any current policies which exist
-// on MinIO corresponding to the input.
-func (sys *IAMSys) currentPolicies(policyName string) string {
-	if sys.store == nil {
+// CurrentPolicies - returns comma separated policy string, from
+// an input policy after validating if there are any current
+// policies which exist on MinIO corresponding to the input.
+func (sys *IAMSys) CurrentPolicies(policyName string) string {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return ""
 	}
+
 	sys.store.rlock()
 	defer sys.store.runlock()
 
@@ -701,7 +718,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) currentPolicies(policyName string) string {
 
 // SetTempUser - set temporary user credentials, these credentials have an expiry.
 func (sys *IAMSys) SetTempUser(accessKey string, cred auth.Credentials, policyName string) error {
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -752,7 +769,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) SetTempUser(accessKey string, cred auth.Credentials, policyNa
 
 // ListUsers - list all users.
 func (sys *IAMSys) ListUsers() (map[string]madmin.UserInfo, error) {
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return nil, errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -794,7 +811,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) ListUsers() (map[string]madmin.UserInfo, error) {
 
 // IsTempUser - returns if given key is a temporary user.
 func (sys *IAMSys) IsTempUser(name string) (bool, error) {
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return false, errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -811,7 +828,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) IsTempUser(name string) (bool, error) {
 
 // IsServiceAccount - returns if given key is a service account
 func (sys *IAMSys) IsServiceAccount(name string) (bool, string, error) {
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return false, "", errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -832,7 +849,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) IsServiceAccount(name string) (bool, string, error) {
 
 // GetUserInfo - get info on a user.
 func (sys *IAMSys) GetUserInfo(name string) (u madmin.UserInfo, err error) {
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return u, errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -877,8 +894,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) GetUserInfo(name string) (u madmin.UserInfo, err error) {
 
 // SetUserStatus - sets current user status, supports disabled or enabled.
 func (sys *IAMSys) SetUserStatus(accessKey string, status madmin.AccountStatus) error {
-
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -923,8 +939,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) SetUserStatus(accessKey string, status madmin.AccountStatus)
 
 // NewServiceAccount - create a new service account
 func (sys *IAMSys) NewServiceAccount(ctx context.Context, parentUser string, sessionPolicy *iampolicy.Policy) (auth.Credentials, error) {
-
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return auth.Credentials{}, errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -990,8 +1005,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) NewServiceAccount(ctx context.Context, parentUser string, ses
 
 // ListServiceAccounts - lists all services accounts associated to a specific user
 func (sys *IAMSys) ListServiceAccounts(ctx context.Context, accessKey string) ([]string, error) {
-
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return nil, errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -1020,8 +1034,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) ListServiceAccounts(ctx context.Context, accessKey string) ([
 
 // GetServiceAccountParent - gets information about a service account
 func (sys *IAMSys) GetServiceAccountParent(ctx context.Context, accessKey string) (string, error) {
-
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return "", errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -1037,8 +1050,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) GetServiceAccountParent(ctx context.Context, accessKey string
 
 // DeleteServiceAccount - delete a service account
 func (sys *IAMSys) DeleteServiceAccount(ctx context.Context, accessKey string) error {
-
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -1066,8 +1078,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) DeleteServiceAccount(ctx context.Context, accessKey string) e
 
 // SetUser - set user credentials and policy.
 func (sys *IAMSys) SetUser(accessKey string, uinfo madmin.UserInfo) error {
-
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -1104,8 +1115,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) SetUser(accessKey string, uinfo madmin.UserInfo) error {
 
 // SetUserSecretKey - sets user secret key
 func (sys *IAMSys) SetUserSecretKey(accessKey string, secretKey string) error {
-
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -1133,7 +1143,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) SetUserSecretKey(accessKey string, secretKey string) error {
 
 // GetUser - get user credentials
 func (sys *IAMSys) GetUser(accessKey string) (cred auth.Credentials, ok bool) {
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return cred, false
 	}
 
@@ -1199,7 +1209,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) GetUser(accessKey string) (cred auth.Credentials, ok bool) {
 // AddUsersToGroup - adds users to a group, creating the group if
 // needed. No error if user(s) already are in the group.
 func (sys *IAMSys) AddUsersToGroup(group string, members []string) error {
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -1259,7 +1269,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) AddUsersToGroup(group string, members []string) error {
 // RemoveUsersFromGroup - remove users from group. If no users are
 // given, and the group is empty, deletes the group as well.
 func (sys *IAMSys) RemoveUsersFromGroup(group string, members []string) error {
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -1339,7 +1349,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) RemoveUsersFromGroup(group string, members []string) error {
 
 // SetGroupStatus - enable/disabled a group
 func (sys *IAMSys) SetGroupStatus(group string, enabled bool) error {
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -1374,7 +1384,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) SetGroupStatus(group string, enabled bool) error {
 
 // GetGroupDescription - builds up group description
 func (sys *IAMSys) GetGroupDescription(group string) (gd madmin.GroupDesc, err error) {
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return gd, errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -1414,7 +1424,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) GetGroupDescription(group string) (gd madmin.GroupDesc, err e
 
 // ListGroups - lists groups.
 func (sys *IAMSys) ListGroups() (r []string, err error) {
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return r, errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -1445,7 +1455,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) ListGroups() (r []string, err error) {
 
 // PolicyDBSet - sets a policy for a user or group in the PolicyDB.
 func (sys *IAMSys) PolicyDBSet(name, policy string, isGroup bool) error {
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
@@ -1511,7 +1521,7 @@ func (sys *IAMSys) policyDBSet(name, policyName string, userType IAMUserType, is
 // be a member of multiple groups, this function returns an array of
 // applicable policies (each group is mapped to at most one policy).
 func (sys *IAMSys) PolicyDBGet(name string, isGroup bool) ([]string, error) {
-	if sys == nil || sys.store == nil {
+	if !sys.Initialized() {
 		return nil, errServerNotInitialized
 	}
 
diff --git a/cmd/sts-handlers.go b/cmd/sts-handlers.go
index b266b4006..ace9ab712 100644
--- a/cmd/sts-handlers.go
+++ b/cmd/sts-handlers.go
@@ -328,11 +328,12 @@ func (sts *stsAPIHandlers) AssumeRoleWithSSO(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Requ
 	var policyName string
 	policySet, ok := iampolicy.GetPoliciesFromClaims(m, iamPolicyClaimNameOpenID())
 	if ok {
-		policyName = globalIAMSys.currentPolicies(strings.Join(policySet.ToSlice(), ","))
+		policyName = globalIAMSys.CurrentPolicies(strings.Join(policySet.ToSlice(), ","))
 	}
 
 	if policyName == "" && globalPolicyOPA == nil {
-		writeSTSErrorResponse(ctx, w, true, ErrSTSInvalidParameterValue, fmt.Errorf("%s claim missing from the JWT token, credentials will not be generated", iamPolicyClaimNameOpenID()))
+		writeSTSErrorResponse(ctx, w, true, ErrSTSInvalidParameterValue,
+			fmt.Errorf("%s claim missing from the JWT token, credentials will not be generated", iamPolicyClaimNameOpenID()))
 		return
 	}
 	m[iamPolicyClaimNameOpenID()] = policyName