diff --git a/br/pkg/gluetidb/glue.go b/br/pkg/gluetidb/glue.go
index 19c3ef1c4c460..c9756fe07ea89 100644
--- a/br/pkg/gluetidb/glue.go
+++ b/br/pkg/gluetidb/glue.go
@@ -69,6 +69,10 @@ func (Glue) GetDomain(store kv.Storage) (*domain.Domain, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.Trace(err)
 	}
+	err = session.InitMDLVariable(store)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 	// create stats handler for backup and restore.
 	err = dom.UpdateTableStatsLoop(se)
 	if err != nil {