MySQL 5.5 IF exists THEN syntax issue

Question

I am trying to wrap some logic checks in some old company MySQL 5.5 code:

For example,

CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS <table_a> (
blah blah blah
);

I am trying to add a logic so that the query will only be executed when another table exists:

If <table_b> EXISTS

THEN

CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS <table_a> (
blah blah blah
);

END IF;

Here is my query following the MySQL 5.5 syntax (https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.5/en/if.html)

IF EXISTS(SELECT table_name 
            FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES
           WHERE table_schema = 'table_b_database'
             AND table_name = 'table_b')


THEN

       CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS <table_a> (
    blah blah blah
    );

END IF;

Sadly there is an error message:

SQL Error (1064): You have an error in your SQL syntax;

Could any gurus enlighten? Thanks.