diff --git a/mysql-test/suite/rpl/r/rpl_gtid_stop_start.result b/mysql-test/suite/rpl/r/rpl_gtid_stop_start.result
index b524ab17c23..708b553e76d 100644
--- a/mysql-test/suite/rpl/r/rpl_gtid_stop_start.result
+++ b/mysql-test/suite/rpl/r/rpl_gtid_stop_start.result
@@ -59,6 +59,57 @@ OK
 SELECT IF(@current_pos1=@current_pos2, "OK", CONCAT(@current_pos1, " != ", @current_pos2));
 IF(@current_pos1=@current_pos2, "OK", CONCAT(@current_pos1, " != ", @current_pos2))
 OK
+INSERT INTO t1 VALUES (6);
+include/start_slave.inc
+SELECT * FROM t1 ORDER BY a;
+a
+1
+2
+3
+4
+5
+6
+*** MDEV-4486: Allow to start old-style replication even if mysql.gtid_slave_pos is unavailable
+include/stop_slave.inc
+CHANGE MASTER TO master_use_gtid= no;
+include/start_slave.inc
+INSERT INTO t1 VALUES (7);
+SELECT * FROM t1 ORDER BY a;
+a
+1
+2
+3
+4
+5
+6
+7
+include/stop_slave.inc
+SET sql_log_bin= 0;
+ALTER TABLE mysql.gtid_slave_pos ENGINE=InnoDB;
+SET sql_log_bin= 1;
+SELECT * FROM mysql.gtid_slave_pos;
+ERROR 42000: Unknown storage engine 'InnoDB'
+SET sql_log_bin=0;
+call mtr.add_suppression("Failed to load slave replication state from table");
+call mtr.add_suppression("Unable to load replication GTID slave state");
+SET sql_log_bin=1;
+include/start_slave.inc
+Warnings:
+Error	1286	Unknown storage engine 'InnoDB'
+INSERT INTO t1 VALUES (8);
+SELECT * FROM t1 ORDER BY a;
+a
+1
+2
+3
+4
+5
+6
+7
+8
+SET sql_log_bin= 0;
+ALTER TABLE mysql.gtid_slave_pos ENGINE=MyISAM;
+SET sql_log_bin= 1;
 include/start_slave.inc
 DROP TABLE t1;
 include/rpl_end.inc
diff --git a/mysql-test/suite/rpl/t/rpl_gtid_stop_start.test b/mysql-test/suite/rpl/t/rpl_gtid_stop_start.test
index cc1da6b3c85..05cb078558d 100644
--- a/mysql-test/suite/rpl/t/rpl_gtid_stop_start.test
+++ b/mysql-test/suite/rpl/t/rpl_gtid_stop_start.test
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 --let $rpl_topology=1->2
 --source include/rpl_init.inc
+--source include/have_innodb.inc
 
 --echo *** Test normal shutdown/restart of slave server configured as a GTID slave. ***
 
@@ -116,6 +117,80 @@ SET @slave_pos2= @@GLOBAL.gtid_slave_pos;
 SET @current_pos2= @@GLOBAL.gtid_current_pos;
 SELECT IF(@slave_pos1=@slave_pos2, "OK", CONCAT(@slave_pos1, " != ", @slave_pos2));
 SELECT IF(@current_pos1=@current_pos2, "OK", CONCAT(@current_pos1, " != ", @current_pos2));
+
+--connection server_1
+INSERT INTO t1 VALUES (6);
+--save_master_pos
+
+--connection server_2
+--source include/start_slave.inc
+--sync_with_master
+SELECT * FROM t1 ORDER BY a;
+
+
+--echo *** MDEV-4486: Allow to start old-style replication even if mysql.gtid_slave_pos is unavailable
+
+--connection server_2
+--source include/stop_slave.inc
+CHANGE MASTER TO master_use_gtid= no;
+--source include/start_slave.inc
+
+--connection server_1
+INSERT INTO t1 VALUES (7);
+--save_master_pos
+
+--connection server_2
+--sync_with_master
+SELECT * FROM t1 ORDER BY a;
+--source include/stop_slave.inc
+
+SET sql_log_bin= 0;
+ALTER TABLE mysql.gtid_slave_pos ENGINE=InnoDB;
+SET sql_log_bin= 1;
+
+--write_file $MYSQLTEST_VARDIR/tmp/mysqld.2.expect
+wait
+EOF
+--shutdown_server 30
+--source include/wait_until_disconnected.inc
+
+--append_file $MYSQLTEST_VARDIR/tmp/mysqld.2.expect
+restart: --skip-slave-start=1 --skip-innodb
+EOF
+--enable_reconnect
+--source include/wait_until_connected_again.inc
+
+--error ER_UNKNOWN_STORAGE_ENGINE
+SELECT * FROM mysql.gtid_slave_pos;
+SET sql_log_bin=0;
+call mtr.add_suppression("Failed to load slave replication state from table");
+call mtr.add_suppression("Unable to load replication GTID slave state");
+SET sql_log_bin=1;
+
+--source include/start_slave.inc
+--connection server_1
+INSERT INTO t1 VALUES (8);
+--save_master_pos
+
+--connection server_2
+--sync_with_master
+SELECT * FROM t1 ORDER BY a;
+
+# Put things back as they were.
+--write_file $MYSQLTEST_VARDIR/tmp/mysqld.2.expect
+wait
+EOF
+--shutdown_server 30
+--source include/wait_until_disconnected.inc
+
+--append_file $MYSQLTEST_VARDIR/tmp/mysqld.2.expect
+restart:  
+EOF
+--enable_reconnect
+--source include/wait_until_connected_again.inc
+SET sql_log_bin= 0;
+ALTER TABLE mysql.gtid_slave_pos ENGINE=MyISAM;
+SET sql_log_bin= 1;
 --source include/start_slave.inc
 
 
diff --git a/sql/rpl_gtid.cc b/sql/rpl_gtid.cc
index d5e9380296e..71b18e64842 100644
--- a/sql/rpl_gtid.cc
+++ b/sql/rpl_gtid.cc
@@ -311,6 +311,18 @@ rpl_slave_state::record_gtid(THD *thd, const rpl_gtid *gtid, uint64 sub_id,
   ulonglong thd_saved_option= thd->variables.option_bits;
   Query_tables_list lex_backup;
 
+  if (unlikely(!loaded))
+  {
+    /*
+      Probably the mysql.gtid_slave_pos table is missing (eg. upgrade) or
+      corrupt.
+
+      We already complained loudly about this, but we can try to continue
+      until the DBA fixes it.
+    */
+    return 0;
+  }
+
   if (!in_statement)
     mysql_reset_thd_for_next_command(thd, 0);
 
diff --git a/sql/slave.cc b/sql/slave.cc
index ac6feb16162..8cb13205f29 100644
--- a/sql/slave.cc
+++ b/sql/slave.cc
@@ -3536,7 +3536,13 @@ pthread_handler_t handle_slave_io(void *arg)
     mi->report(ERROR_LEVEL, thd->stmt_da->sql_errno(), 
                 "Unable to load replication GTID slave state from mysql.%s: %s",
                 rpl_gtid_slave_state_table_name.str, thd->stmt_da->message());
-    goto err;
+    /*
+      If we are using old-style replication, we can continue, even though we
+      then will not be able to record the GTIDs we receive. But if using GTID,
+      we must give up.
+    */
+    if (mi->using_gtid != Master_info::USE_GTID_NO || opt_gtid_strict_mode)
+      goto err;
   }
 
 
@@ -4141,7 +4147,13 @@ log '%s' at position %s, relay log '%s' position: %s%s", RPL_LOG_NAME,
     rli->report(ERROR_LEVEL, thd->stmt_da->sql_errno(), 
                 "Unable to load replication GTID slave state from mysql.%s: %s",
                 rpl_gtid_slave_state_table_name.str, thd->stmt_da->message());
-    goto err;
+    /*
+      If we are using old-style replication, we can continue, even though we
+      then will not be able to record the GTIDs we receive. But if using GTID,
+      we must give up.
+    */
+    if (mi->using_gtid != Master_info::USE_GTID_NO || opt_gtid_strict_mode)
+      goto err;
   }
 
   /* execute init_slave variable */