diff --git a/py/selenium/webdriver/remote/webdriver.py b/py/selenium/webdriver/remote/webdriver.py
index cc4d06e2e2779..3b3c887f0cb89 100644
--- a/py/selenium/webdriver/remote/webdriver.py
+++ b/py/selenium/webdriver/remote/webdriver.py
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ def start_session(self, capabilities: dict) -> None:
             self.session_id = response.get("sessionId")
             self.caps = response.get("capabilities")
         except Exception:
-            if self.service is not None:
+            if hasattr(self, "service") and self.service is not None:
                 self.service.stop()
             raise