diff --git a/scripts/spdkcli.py b/scripts/spdkcli.py
index 743ed0607..5a668c26b 100755
--- a/scripts/spdkcli.py
+++ b/scripts/spdkcli.py
@@ -44,7 +44,13 @@ def main():
                         help="commands to execute by SPDKCli as one-line command")
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
-    with rpc.client.JSONRPCClient(args.socket) as client:
+    try:
+        client = rpc.client.JSONRPCClient(args.socket)
+    except JSONRPCException as e:
+        spdk_shell.log.error("%s. SPDK not running?" % e)
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    with client:
         root_node = UIRoot(client, spdk_shell)
         root_node.verbose = args.verbose
         try: