diff --git a/src/AIModel/AIAircraft.cxx b/src/AIModel/AIAircraft.cxx
index 87011bccd..d8765bee1 100644
--- a/src/AIModel/AIAircraft.cxx
+++ b/src/AIModel/AIAircraft.cxx
@@ -327,7 +327,12 @@ void FGAIAircraft::ProcessFlightPlan( double dt, time_t now ) {
     // Initialize the flightplan
     //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
     if (!prev||repositioned) {
-        handleFirstWaypoint();
+        if (!fp->empty()) {
+            handleFirstWaypoint();
+        } else {
+            SG_LOG(SG_AI, SG_WARN, getCallSign() << " didn't have a valid flightplan and was killed");
+            setDie(true);
+        }
         return;
     }                            // end of initialization
     if (!fpExecutable(now)) {