diff --git a/plugins/digitalbitbox/digitalbitbox.py b/plugins/digitalbitbox/digitalbitbox.py
index 62365b443..f8704a838 100644
--- a/plugins/digitalbitbox/digitalbitbox.py
+++ b/plugins/digitalbitbox/digitalbitbox.py
@@ -695,6 +695,9 @@ class DigitalBitboxPlugin(HW_PluginBase):
         devmgr = self.device_manager()
         device_id = device_info.device.id_
         client = devmgr.client_by_id(device_id)
+        if client is None:
+            raise Exception(_('Failed to create a client for this device.') + '\n' +
+                            _('Make sure it is in the correct state.'))
         client.handler = self.create_handler(wizard)
         if purpose == HWD_SETUP_NEW_WALLET:
             client.setupRunning = True
diff --git a/plugins/keepkey/keepkey.py b/plugins/keepkey/keepkey.py
index 56c817668..0355e50a1 100644
--- a/plugins/keepkey/keepkey.py
+++ b/plugins/keepkey/keepkey.py
@@ -224,6 +224,9 @@ class KeepKeyPlugin(HW_PluginBase):
         devmgr = self.device_manager()
         device_id = device_info.device.id_
         client = devmgr.client_by_id(device_id)
+        if client is None:
+            raise Exception(_('Failed to create a client for this device.') + '\n' +
+                            _('Make sure it is in the correct state.'))
         # fixme: we should use: client.handler = wizard
         client.handler = self.create_handler(wizard)
         if not device_info.initialized:
diff --git a/plugins/ledger/ledger.py b/plugins/ledger/ledger.py
index 0e963eef5..ab44458f7 100644
--- a/plugins/ledger/ledger.py
+++ b/plugins/ledger/ledger.py
@@ -585,6 +585,9 @@ class LedgerPlugin(HW_PluginBase):
         devmgr = self.device_manager()
         device_id = device_info.device.id_
         client = devmgr.client_by_id(device_id)
+        if client is None:
+            raise Exception(_('Failed to create a client for this device.') + '\n' +
+                            _('Make sure it is in the correct state.'))
         client.handler = self.create_handler(wizard)
         client.get_xpub("m/44'/0'", 'standard') # TODO replace by direct derivation once Nano S > 1.1
 
diff --git a/plugins/trezor/trezor.py b/plugins/trezor/trezor.py
index 3539b9de4..648c85678 100644
--- a/plugins/trezor/trezor.py
+++ b/plugins/trezor/trezor.py
@@ -257,6 +257,9 @@ class TrezorPlugin(HW_PluginBase):
         devmgr = self.device_manager()
         device_id = device_info.device.id_
         client = devmgr.client_by_id(device_id)
+        if client is None:
+            raise Exception(_('Failed to create a client for this device.') + '\n' +
+                            _('Make sure it is in the correct state.'))
         # fixme: we should use: client.handler = wizard
         client.handler = self.create_handler(wizard)
         if not device_info.initialized: