diff --git a/test/basetest/utils.py b/test/basetest/utils.py
index 36f5a3992..c0781aefb 100644
--- a/test/basetest/utils.py
+++ b/test/basetest/utils.py
@@ -108,7 +108,20 @@ def _queue_output(arguments, pidq, outputq):
     kwargs = arguments["process"]
     input = arguments["input"]
 
-    proc = Popen(**kwargs)
+    try:
+        proc = Popen(**kwargs)
+    except OSError as e:
+        # pid None is read by the main thread as a crash of the process
+        pidq.put(None)
+
+        outputq.put((
+            "",
+            ("Unexpected exception caught during execution of taskw: '{0}' . "
+             "If you are running out-of-tree tests set USE_PATH=1 in shell "
+             "env before execution".format(e)),
+            255))  # false exitcode
+
+        return
 
     # NOTE If for whatever reason pid is None at the time of access, use the
     # following line instead
@@ -161,6 +174,10 @@ def _get_output(arguments, timeout=None):
     try:
         pid = pidq.get(timeout=timeout)
     except Empty:
+        pid = None
+
+    # Process crashed or timed out for some reason
+    if pid is None:
         return _retrieve_output(t, output_timeout, outputq,
                                 "TaskWarrior to start")