diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/browser/debugActions.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/browser/debugActions.ts
index 2a9d55d19f316c2f54015d4a4e77e5e844bf081f..6b2def5a35d2d605123b9830bb227a035b7d4bd2 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/browser/debugActions.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/browser/debugActions.ts
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ export class StartAction extends AbstractDebugAction {
 	// Note: When this action is executed from the process explorer, a config is passed. For all
 	// other cases it is run with no arguments.
 	public run(config?: IConfig): Thenable<any> {
-		if (config) {
+		if (config && 'type' in config && 'request' in config) {
 			return this.debugService.startDebugging(undefined, config, this.isNoDebug());
 		}