diff --git a/drushd.drush.inc b/drushd.drush.inc
index 38a2375..28fa6d1 100644
--- a/drushd.drush.inc
+++ b/drushd.drush.inc
@@ -159,6 +159,16 @@ function drush_daemon_api_start_daemon($daemon_machine_name) {
   }
   require_once $daemon_class_file;
 
+  if (!class_exists($daemon_class)) {
+    drush_set_error(
+      dt(
+        'Class @class_name could not be found in @class_file.',
+        array('@class_name' => $daemon_class, '@class_file' => $daemon_class_file)
+      )
+    );
+    return;
+  }
+
   // Instantiate our daemon.
   call_user_func(array($daemon_class, 'setFilename'), __FILE__);
   $daemon = call_user_func(array($daemon_class, 'getInstance'));