--- old/src/share/vm/gc_implementation/shared/vmGCOperations.cpp	2014-02-12 15:28:25.407698701 +0100
+++ new/src/share/vm/gc_implementation/shared/vmGCOperations.cpp	2014-02-12 15:28:25.307699415 +0100
@@ -104,6 +104,13 @@
   assert(((_gc_cause != GCCause::_no_gc) &&
           (_gc_cause != GCCause::_no_cause_specified)), "Illegal GCCause");
 
+  // To be able to handle a GC the VM initialization needs to be completed.
+  if (!is_init_completed()) {
+    vm_exit_during_initialization(
+      err_msg("GC triggered before VM initialization completed. Try increasing "
+              "NewSize, current value " UINTX_FORMAT "K.", NewSize / K));
+  }
+
   acquire_pending_list_lock();
   // If the GC count has changed someone beat us to the collection
   // Get the Heap_lock after the pending_list_lock.