diff --git a/lib/peers.go b/lib/peers.go
index abc25794b..e7c6d732f 100644
--- a/lib/peers.go
+++ b/lib/peers.go
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ func (d *PeerRequests) List(p *PeerListParams, res *[]*config.ProfilePod) error
 	if d.cli != nil {
 		return d.cli.Call("PeerRequests.List", p, res)
 	}
+	if d.qriNode == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("error: not connected, run `qri connect` in another window")
+	}
 
 	r := d.qriNode.Repo
 	user, err := r.Profile()
diff --git a/lib/peers_test.go b/lib/peers_test.go
index 912abdfba..45c86fdf3 100644
--- a/lib/peers_test.go
+++ b/lib/peers_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package lib
 
 import (
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/qri-io/qri/config"
@@ -10,6 +11,18 @@ import (
 	testrepo "github.com/qri-io/qri/repo/test"
 )
 
+func TestPeerRequestsListNoConnection(t *testing.T) {
+	req := NewPeerRequests(nil, nil)
+	p := PeerListParams{}
+	got := []*config.ProfilePod{}
+	err := req.List(&p, &got)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Errorf("error: req.List should have failed and returned an error")
+	} else if !strings.HasPrefix(err.Error(), "error: not connected") {
+		t.Errorf("error: unexpected error message: %s", err.Error())
+	}
+}
+
 func TestPeerRequestsList(t *testing.T) {
 	cases := []struct {
 		p   *PeerListParams