diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/electron-browser/debugService.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/electron-browser/debugService.ts
index 29469434fa559ae7c67a2254fafa2a49ad7ad923..4cdde267963065b54f21ab913a6eb8fb6fe5884a 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/electron-browser/debugService.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/electron-browser/debugService.ts
@@ -757,7 +757,7 @@ export class DebugService implements debug.IDebugService {
 								return this.createProcess(root, config, sessionId);
 							}
 
-							return undefined;
+							return TPromise.wrapError(new Error(nls.localize('invalidConfig', "Launch configuration provided does not have the mandatory `type` field.")));
 						})
 					).then(() => wrapUpState(), err => {
 						wrapUpState();