diff --git a/src/main/java/org/mskcc/cbio/portal/dao/JdbcUtil.java b/src/main/java/org/mskcc/cbio/portal/dao/JdbcUtil.java
index e75931b2..1f376fa3 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/mskcc/cbio/portal/dao/JdbcUtil.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/mskcc/cbio/portal/dao/JdbcUtil.java
@@ -82,6 +82,9 @@ public static void setDataSource(DataSource value) {
     }
 
     public static TransactionTemplate getTransactionTemplate() {
+        if (transactionTemplate == null) {
+            getDataSource();
+        }
         return transactionTemplate;
     }