diff --git a/decimal.go b/decimal.go
index 134ece2..a29ea1a 100644
--- a/decimal.go
+++ b/decimal.go
@@ -657,6 +657,7 @@ func (d Decimal) Exponent() int32 {
 
 // Coefficient returns the coefficient of the decimal.  It is scaled by 10^Exponent()
 func (d Decimal) Coefficient() *big.Int {
+	d.ensureInitialized()
 	// we copy the coefficient so that mutating the result does not mutate the
 	// Decimal.
 	return big.NewInt(0).Set(d.value)