The quadrupole moment of the beta-emitter N-12(I-pi = 1(+),T-1/2 = 11 ms) has been measured to be Q(N-12) = + 9.8 +/- 0.9 mb by use of a modified beta-NMR method. The present result is 3 times smaller than the value which was deduced from the photoproduction cross-section of pions on C-12, while it is twice the shell-model prediction based on the Cohen-Kurath wave functions in the Woods-Saxon potential. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.