diff --git a/lib/kitchen/instance.rb b/lib/kitchen/instance.rb
index b4ad60cc9..761a2fe8d 100644
--- a/lib/kitchen/instance.rb
+++ b/lib/kitchen/instance.rb
@@ -405,6 +405,7 @@ def converge_action
         if legacy_ssh_base_driver?
           legacy_ssh_base_converge(state)
         else
+          provisioner.check_license
           provisioner.call(state)
         end
       end
diff --git a/lib/kitchen/provisioner/base.rb b/lib/kitchen/provisioner/base.rb
index 15126b1ec..ad9b70c28 100644
--- a/lib/kitchen/provisioner/base.rb
+++ b/lib/kitchen/provisioner/base.rb
@@ -68,7 +68,6 @@ def initialize(config = {})
       # @raise [ActionFailed] if the action could not be completed
       # rubocop:disable Metrics/AbcSize
       def call(state)
-        check_license
         create_sandbox
         sandbox_dirs = Util.list_directory(sandbox_path)
 
diff --git a/spec/kitchen/instance_spec.rb b/spec/kitchen/instance_spec.rb
index 5325eaea9..c7ec10730 100644
--- a/spec/kitchen/instance_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/kitchen/instance_spec.rb
@@ -509,6 +509,7 @@ def platform(name = "platform")
       describe "with no state" do
         it "calls Driver#create and Provisioner#call with empty state hash" do
           driver.expects(:create).with({})
+          provisioner.expects(:check_license)
           provisioner.expects(:call)
                      .with { |state| state[:last_action] == "create" }
 
diff --git a/spec/kitchen/provisioner/base_spec.rb b/spec/kitchen/provisioner/base_spec.rb
index db806d6cb..8c8e06f2b 100644
--- a/spec/kitchen/provisioner/base_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/kitchen/provisioner/base_spec.rb
@@ -163,12 +163,6 @@ def sandbox_path
       FakeFS::FileSystem.clear
     end
 
-    it "checks the license" do
-      provisioner.expects(:check_license)
-
-      cmd
-    end
-
     it "creates the sandbox" do
       provisioner.expects(:create_sandbox)