diff --git a/mysql-test/r/partition.result b/mysql-test/r/partition.result
index f90f3b07d70..753a2e31632 100644
--- a/mysql-test/r/partition.result
+++ b/mysql-test/r/partition.result
@@ -1,4 +1,16 @@
 drop table if exists t1;
+create table t1 (id int auto_increment, s1 int, primary key (id));
+insert into t1 values (null,1);
+insert into t1 values (null,6);
+select * from t1;
+id	s1
+1	1
+2	6
+alter table t1 partition by range (id) (
+partition p0 values less than (3),
+partition p1 values less than maxvalue
+);
+drop table t1;
 create table t1 (a int)
 partition by key(a)
 partitions 0.2+e1;
diff --git a/mysql-test/t/partition.test b/mysql-test/t/partition.test
index f391237a4db..929d3ecce9e 100644
--- a/mysql-test/t/partition.test
+++ b/mysql-test/t/partition.test
@@ -9,6 +9,24 @@
 drop table if exists t1;
 --enable_warnings
 
+#
+# Bug 30878: crashing when alter an auto_increment non partitioned
+#            table to partitioned
+
+create table t1 (id int auto_increment, s1 int, primary key (id));
+
+insert into t1 values (null,1);
+insert into t1 values (null,6);
+
+select * from t1;
+
+alter table t1 partition by range (id) (
+  partition p0 values less than (3),
+  partition p1 values less than maxvalue
+);
+
+drop table t1;
+
 #
 # Bug 15890: Strange number of partitions accepted
 #
diff --git a/sql/ha_partition.cc b/sql/ha_partition.cc
index 1150cf41417..81d75c58d05 100644
--- a/sql/ha_partition.cc
+++ b/sql/ha_partition.cc
@@ -2678,7 +2678,8 @@ int ha_partition::write_row(uchar * buf)
   uint32 part_id;
   int error;
   longlong func_value;
-  bool autoincrement_lock= false;
+  bool autoincrement_lock= FALSE;
+  my_bitmap_map *old_map;
 #ifdef NOT_NEEDED
   uchar *rec0= m_rec0;
 #endif
@@ -2705,8 +2706,17 @@ int ha_partition::write_row(uchar * buf)
       use autoincrement_lock variable to avoid unnecessary locks.
       Probably not an ideal solution.
     */
-    autoincrement_lock= true;
-    pthread_mutex_lock(&table_share->mutex);
+    if (table_share->tmp_table == NO_TMP_TABLE)
+    {
+      /*
+        Bug#30878 crash when alter table from non partitioned table
+        to partitioned.
+        Checking if tmp table then there is no need to lock,
+        and the table_share->mutex may not be initialised.
+      */
+      autoincrement_lock= TRUE;
+      pthread_mutex_lock(&table_share->mutex);
+    }
     error= update_auto_increment();
 
     /*
@@ -2715,10 +2725,10 @@ int ha_partition::write_row(uchar * buf)
       the correct partition. We must check and fail if neccessary.
     */
     if (error)
-      DBUG_RETURN(error);
+      goto exit;
   }
 
-  my_bitmap_map *old_map= dbug_tmp_use_all_columns(table, table->read_set);
+  old_map= dbug_tmp_use_all_columns(table, table->read_set);
 #ifdef NOT_NEEDED
   if (likely(buf == rec0))
 #endif