diff --git a/session-manager/src/nsmd.C b/session-manager/src/nsmd.C
index 7ea7376..d492ff5 100644
--- a/session-manager/src/nsmd.C
+++ b/session-manager/src/nsmd.C
@@ -596,7 +596,7 @@ command_client_to_save ( Client *c )
         if ( gui_is_active )
             osc_server->send( gui_addr, "/nsm/gui/client/status", c->client_id, c->status = "save" );
     }
-    else if ( c->is_dumb_client() )
+    else if ( c->is_dumb_client() && c->pid )
     {
         // this is a dumb client... 
         if ( gui_is_active )