diff --git a/query/graphql/planner/planner.go b/query/graphql/planner/planner.go
index ceb991e0ed..77a9488a91 100644
--- a/query/graphql/planner/planner.go
+++ b/query/graphql/planner/planner.go
@@ -429,6 +429,10 @@ func (p *Planner) explainRequest(
 	plan planNode,
 ) ([]map[string]interface{}, error) {
 
+	if plan == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Can't explain request of a nil plan.")
+	}
+
 	explainGraph, err := buildExplainGraph(plan)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -449,6 +453,10 @@ func (p *Planner) executeRequest(
 	plan planNode,
 ) ([]map[string]interface{}, error) {
 
+	if plan == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Can't execute request of a nil plan.")
+	}
+
 	if err := plan.Start(); err != nil {
 		return nil, multiErr(err, plan.Close())
 	}
@@ -491,10 +499,6 @@ func (p *Planner) runRequest(
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	if plan == nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Can't run request of an empty / nil plan.")
-	}
-
 	isAnExplainRequest :=
 		(len(query.Queries) > 0 && query.Queries[0].IsExplain) ||
 			(len(query.Mutations) > 0 && query.Mutations[0].IsExplain)