diff --git a/lib/runCode.js b/lib/runCode.js
index 396ffc0ba1..cf01126d75 100644
--- a/lib/runCode.js
+++ b/lib/runCode.js
@@ -107,7 +107,10 @@ module.exports = function (opts, cb) {
   loadContract(runVm)
 
   // iterate through the given ops until something breaks or we hit STOP
-  function runVm () {
+  function runVm (err) {
+    if (err) {
+      return parseVmResults(err)
+    }
     async.whilst(vmIsActive, iterateVm, parseVmResults)
   }