diff --git a/lib/common/crash-reporter.js b/lib/common/crash-reporter.js
index ae651f9523ba2..8e4dbbf4a2885 100644
--- a/lib/common/crash-reporter.js
+++ b/lib/common/crash-reporter.js
@@ -54,7 +54,12 @@ class CrashReporter {
   }
 
   getUploadedReports () {
-    return binding.getUploadedReports(this.getCrashesDirectory())
+    const crashDir = this.getCrashesDirectory()
+    if (!crashDir) {
+      throw new Error('crashReporter has not been started')
+    }
+
+    return binding.getUploadedReports(crashDir)
   }
 
   getCrashesDirectory () {