diff --git a/python/ray/data/_internal/stats.py b/python/ray/data/_internal/stats.py
index 1b129f81c5c0..869aa49b84ca 100644
--- a/python/ray/data/_internal/stats.py
+++ b/python/ray/data/_internal/stats.py
@@ -633,7 +633,9 @@ def __init__(self):
         self._update_thread: Optional[threading.Thread] = None
         self._update_thread_lock: threading.Lock = threading.Lock()
 
-    def _get_stats_actor(self, skip_cache: bool = False) -> Optional[ActorHandle]:
+    def _get_or_create_stats_actor(
+        self, skip_cache: bool = False
+    ) -> Optional[ActorHandle]:
         if ray._private.worker._global_node is None:
             raise RuntimeError(
                 "Global node is not initialized. Driver might be not connected to Ray."
@@ -650,27 +652,13 @@ def _get_stats_actor(self, skip_cache: bool = False) -> Optional[ActorHandle]:
                 self._stats_actor_handle = ray.get_actor(
                     name=STATS_ACTOR_NAME, namespace=STATS_ACTOR_NAMESPACE
                 )
+                self._stats_actor_cluster_id = current_cluster_id
             except ValueError:
-                return None
-            self._stats_actor_cluster_id = current_cluster_id
-
-        return self._stats_actor_handle
-
-    def _get_or_create_stats_actor(self) -> Optional[ActorHandle]:
-        if ray._private.worker._global_node is None:
-            raise RuntimeError(
-                "Global node is not initialized. Driver might be not connected to Ray."
-            )
-
-        # NOTE: In some cases (for ex, when registering dataset) actor might be gone
-        #       (for ex, when prior driver disconnects) and therefore to avoid using
-        #       stale handle we force looking up the actor with Ray to determine if
-        #       we should create a new one.
-        actor = self._get_stats_actor(skip_cache=True)
-
-        if actor is None:
-            self._stats_actor_handle = _get_or_create_stats_actor()
-            self._stats_actor_cluster_id = ray._private.worker._global_node.cluster_id
+                # Create an actor if it doesn't exist
+                self._stats_actor_handle = _get_or_create_stats_actor()
+                self._stats_actor_cluster_id = (
+                    ray._private.worker._global_node.cluster_id
+                )
 
         return self._stats_actor_handle
 
@@ -684,11 +672,7 @@ def _run_update_loop():
                     while True:
                         if self._last_iteration_stats or self._last_execution_stats:
                             try:
-                                # Do not create _StatsActor if it doesn't exist because
-                                # this thread can be running even after the cluster is
-                                # shutdown. Creating an actor will automatically start
-                                # a new cluster.
-                                stats_actor = self._get_stats_actor()
+                                stats_actor = self._get_or_create_stats_actor()
                                 if stats_actor is None:
                                     continue
                                 stats_actor.update_metrics.remote(
@@ -806,7 +790,14 @@ def register_dataset_to_stats_actor(
             topology: Optional Topology representing the DAG structure to export
             data_context: The DataContext attached to the dataset
         """
-        self._get_or_create_stats_actor().register_dataset.remote(
+
+        # NOTE: In some cases (for ex, when registering dataset) actor might be gone
+        #       (for ex, when prior driver disconnects) and therefore to avoid using
+        #       stale handle we force looking up the actor with Ray to determine if
+        #       we should create a new one.
+        stats_actor = self._get_or_create_stats_actor(skip_cache=True)
+
+        stats_actor.register_dataset.remote(
             ray.get_runtime_context().get_job_id(),
             dataset_tag,
             operator_tags,
@@ -816,7 +807,13 @@ def register_dataset_to_stats_actor(
 
     def get_dataset_id_from_stats_actor(self) -> str:
         try:
-            return ray.get(self._get_or_create_stats_actor().get_dataset_id.remote())
+            # NOTE: In some cases (for ex, when registering dataset) actor might be gone
+            #       (for ex, when prior driver disconnects) and therefore to avoid using
+            #       stale handle we force looking up the actor with Ray to determine if
+            #       we should create a new one.
+            stats_actor = self._get_or_create_stats_actor(skip_cache=True)
+
+            return ray.get(stats_actor.get_dataset_id.remote())
         except Exception:
             # Getting dataset id from _StatsActor may fail, in this case
             # fall back to uuid4