diff --git a/runtime/runtime.cc b/runtime/runtime.cc
index 986c09d..95a6b39 100644
--- a/runtime/runtime.cc
+++ b/runtime/runtime.cc
@@ -395,7 +395,10 @@
 
   system_class_loader_ = CreateSystemClassLoader();
 
-  self->GetJniEnv()->locals.AssertEmpty();
+  {
+    ScopedObjectAccess soa(self);
+    self->GetJniEnv()->locals.AssertEmpty();
+  }
 
   VLOG(startup) << "Runtime::Start exiting";