diff --git a/src/dotnet-scaffolding/Microsoft.DotNet.Scaffolding.Internal/CliHelpers/DotnetCliRunner.cs b/src/dotnet-scaffolding/Microsoft.DotNet.Scaffolding.Internal/CliHelpers/DotnetCliRunner.cs
index 0b74e1c6..53e7ae6e 100644
--- a/src/dotnet-scaffolding/Microsoft.DotNet.Scaffolding.Internal/CliHelpers/DotnetCliRunner.cs
+++ b/src/dotnet-scaffolding/Microsoft.DotNet.Scaffolding.Internal/CliHelpers/DotnetCliRunner.cs
@@ -43,7 +43,16 @@ internal class DotnetCliRunner
             }
         };
 
-        process.Start();
+        try
+        {
+            process.Start();
+        }
+        catch (Exception e)
+        {
+            stdErrCallback(e.Message);
+            return -1;
+        }
+
         process.BeginOutputReadLine();
         process.BeginErrorReadLine();
         process.WaitForExit();
@@ -66,7 +75,16 @@ internal class DotnetCliRunner
 
         process.EnableRaisingEvents = true;
 
-        process.Start();
+        try
+        {
+            process.Start();
+        }
+        catch (Exception e)
+        {
+            stdOut = string.Empty;
+            stdErr = e.Message;
+            return -1;
+        }
 
         var taskOut = outStream.BeginRead(process.StandardOutput);
         var taskErr = errStream.BeginRead(process.StandardError);