diff --git a/lib/Cake/Error/ExceptionRenderer.php b/lib/Cake/Error/ExceptionRenderer.php
index 069ed1860..9eb5b0111 100644
--- a/lib/Cake/Error/ExceptionRenderer.php
+++ b/lib/Cake/Error/ExceptionRenderer.php
@@ -151,12 +151,14 @@ class ExceptionRenderer {
 			$response->header($exception->responseHeader());
 		}
 
-		try {
-			$controller = new CakeErrorController($request, $response);
-			$controller->startupProcess();
-		} catch (Exception $e) {
-			if (!empty($controller) && $controller->Components->enabled('RequestHandler')) {
-				$controller->RequestHandler->startup($controller);
+		if (class_exists('AppController')) {
+			try {
+				$controller = new CakeErrorController($request, $response);
+				$controller->startupProcess();
+			} catch (Exception $e) {
+				if (!empty($controller) && $controller->Components->enabled('RequestHandler')) {
+					$controller->RequestHandler->startup($controller);
+				}
 			}
 		}
 		if (empty($controller)) {