diff --git a/lib/job.js b/lib/job.js
index 331e1a2d..443ab4bc 100644
--- a/lib/job.js
+++ b/lib/job.js
@@ -146,7 +146,10 @@ function runSync(instance, job_id, request_doc, asJson, failFast) {
                                 console.info('  No log file available');
                             }
                             // report a failing job gracefully with fail-fast
-                            if (failFast && job_execution.exit_status.status === JOB_EXECUTION_EXIT_STATUS_ERROR ) {
+                            if (failFast
+                                && typeof job_execution.exit_status === 'object'
+                                && job_execution.exit_status !== null
+                                && job_execution.exit_status.status === JOB_EXECUTION_EXIT_STATUS_ERROR ) {
                                 console.error("Job ended with error. You may check the log files for further details.");
                             }
                         }