diff --git a/mysql-test/main/mdev-31255.result b/mysql-test/main/mdev-31255.result
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..51e8750098119
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mysql-test/main/mdev-31255.result
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+CREATE TABLE t1 (a INT);
+INSERT INTO t1 VALUES (1),(2);
+CREATE TABLE t2 (b CHAR(255), FULLTEXT(b));
+INSERT INTO t2 VALUES ('foo'),('bar');
+EXPLAIN 
+DELETE 
+FROM t1 
+WHERE EXISTS (
+SELECT * FROM t2 WHERE MATCH (b) AGAINST ('qux' IN NATURAL LANGUAGE MODE)
+);
+id	select_type	table	type	possible_keys	key	key_len	ref	rows	Extra
+1	SIMPLE	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	Impossible WHERE
+DROP TABLE t1, t2;
diff --git a/mysql-test/main/mdev-31255.test b/mysql-test/main/mdev-31255.test
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..f3683e01a07aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mysql-test/main/mdev-31255.test
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+#
+# MDEV-31255 Crash with Explain DELETE on fulltext search query
+#
+
+CREATE TABLE t1 (a INT);
+INSERT INTO t1 VALUES (1),(2);
+ 
+CREATE TABLE t2 (b CHAR(255), FULLTEXT(b));
+INSERT INTO t2 VALUES ('foo'),('bar');
+
+EXPLAIN 
+DELETE 
+FROM t1 
+WHERE EXISTS (
+  SELECT * FROM t2 WHERE MATCH (b) AGAINST ('qux' IN NATURAL LANGUAGE MODE)
+);
+ 
+# Cleanup
+DROP TABLE t1, t2;
diff --git a/sql/sql_select.cc b/sql/sql_select.cc
index 42cc5d28c1ba0..a4d8544f8b018 100644
--- a/sql/sql_select.cc
+++ b/sql/sql_select.cc
@@ -3238,11 +3238,6 @@ int JOIN::optimize_stage2()
   if (make_join_readinfo(this, select_opts_for_readinfo, no_jbuf_after))
     DBUG_RETURN(1);
 
-  /* Perform FULLTEXT search before all regular searches */
-  if (!(select_options & SELECT_DESCRIBE))
-    if (init_ftfuncs(thd, select_lex, MY_TEST(order)))
-      DBUG_RETURN(1);
-
   /*
     It's necessary to check const part of HAVING cond as
     there is a chance that some cond parts may become
@@ -15653,6 +15648,11 @@ bool JOIN_TAB::preread_init()
   if (!derived || !derived->is_materialized_derived())
   {
     preread_init_done= TRUE;
+
+    if (table->fulltext_searched &&
+        init_ftfuncs(join->thd, join->select_lex, MY_TEST(join->order)))
+      DBUG_RETURN(TRUE);
+
     DBUG_RETURN(FALSE);
   }
 
@@ -15679,9 +15679,9 @@ bool JOIN_TAB::preread_init()
                  );
 
   /* init ftfuns for just initialized derived table */
-  if (table->fulltext_searched)
-    if (init_ftfuncs(join->thd, join->select_lex, MY_TEST(join->order)))
-      DBUG_RETURN(TRUE);
+  if (table->fulltext_searched &&
+      init_ftfuncs(join->thd, join->select_lex, MY_TEST(join->order)))
+    DBUG_RETURN(TRUE);
 
   DBUG_RETURN(FALSE);
 }