diff --git a/lib/_debugger.js b/lib/_debugger.js
index c84d2b823e4..f73d13e0f0a 100644
--- a/lib/_debugger.js
+++ b/lib/_debugger.js
@@ -415,6 +415,7 @@ function restartQuestion (cb) {
   });
 }
 
+
 function printScripts () {
   var text = '';
   for (var id in c.scripts) {
@@ -428,6 +429,12 @@ function printScripts () {
 }
 
 
+function printNotConnected () {
+  console.log("Program not running. Try 'run'.");
+  term.prompt();
+}
+
+
 function startInterface() {
 
   term = readline.createInterface(process.stdout);
@@ -485,18 +492,30 @@ function startInterface() {
       term.prompt();
 
     } else if ('version' == cmd) {
+      if (!c) {
+        printNotConnected();
+        return;
+      }
       c.reqVersion(function (v) {
         console.log(v);
         term.prompt();
       });
 
     } else if (/info +breakpoints/.test(cmd)) {
+      if (!c) {
+        printNotConnected();
+        return;
+      }
       c.listbreakpoints(function (res) {
         console.log(res);
         term.prompt();
       });
 
     } else if (/^backtrace/.test(cmd) || /^bt/.test(cmd)) {
+      if (!c) {
+        printNotConnected();
+        return;
+      }
       c.reqBacktrace(function (bt) {
         if (/full/.test(cmd)) {
           console.log(bt);
@@ -514,25 +533,45 @@ function startInterface() {
       });
 
     } else if (cmd == 'scripts' || cmd == 'scripts full') {
+      if (!c) {
+        printNotConnected();
+        return;
+      }
       printScripts();
       term.prompt();
 
     } else if (/^continue/.test(cmd) || /^c/.test(cmd)) {
+      if (!c) {
+        printNotConnected();
+        return;
+      }
       c.reqContinue(function (res) {
         // Wait for break point. (disable raw mode?)
       });
 
     } else if (/^next/.test(cmd) || /^n/.test(cmd)) {
+      if (!c) {
+        printNotConnected();
+        return;
+      }
       c.step('next', 1, function (res) {
         // Wait for break point. (disable raw mode?)
       });
 
     } else if (/^step/.test(cmd) || /^s/.test(cmd)) {
+      if (!c) {
+        printNotConnected();
+        return;
+      }
       c.step('in', 1, function (res) {
         // Wait for break point. (disable raw mode?)
       });
 
     } else if (/^print/.test(cmd) || /^p/.test(cmd)) {
+      if (!c) {
+        printNotConnected();
+        return;
+      }
       var i = cmd.indexOf(' ');
       if (i < 0) {
         console.log("print [expression]");