@@ -161,11 +161,19 @@ class BalancingLearner(BaseLearner):

     def ask(self, n, tell_pending=True):

         """Chose points for learners."""

+        if any(l.npoints for l in self.learners):

+            ask_and_tell = self._ask_and_tell

+        else:

+            # If there are no data points yet,

+            # distribute the points over all learners.

+            # See https://github.com/python-adaptive/adaptive/issues/159

+            ask_and_tell = self._ask_and_tell_based_on_npoints

+

         if not tell_pending:

             with restore(*self.learners):

-                return self._ask_and_tell(n)

+                return ask_and_tell(n)

         else:

-            return self._ask_and_tell(n)

+            return ask_and_tell(n)

     def tell(self, x, y):

         index, x = x