diff --git a/crmsh/crash_test/task.py b/crmsh/crash_test/task.py
index 62c89c6f15..1c3e066c6c 100644
--- a/crmsh/crash_test/task.py
+++ b/crmsh/crash_test/task.py
@@ -108,6 +108,9 @@ def task_pre_check(self, need_fence=True):
             self.get_fence_info()
             if not self.fence_enabled:
                 raise TaskError("Require stonith enabled")
+            if not self.fence_configured:
+                raise TaskError("Require stonith device configured and running")
+
 
     def get_fence_info(self):
         """
@@ -115,6 +118,7 @@ def get_fence_info(self):
         """
         fence_info_inst = utils.FenceInfo()
         self.fence_enabled = fence_info_inst.fence_enabled
+        self.fence_configured = fence_info_inst.fence_configured
         self.fence_action = fence_info_inst.fence_action
         self.fence_timeout = fence_info_inst.fence_timeout
 
diff --git a/crmsh/crash_test/utils.py b/crmsh/crash_test/utils.py
index 556d1dc6ed..d3ebb7f99a 100644
--- a/crmsh/crash_test/utils.py
+++ b/crmsh/crash_test/utils.py
@@ -110,6 +110,10 @@ def fence_enabled(self):
             return False
         return True
 
+    @property
+    def fence_configured(self):
+        return crmshutils.has_stonith_running()
+
     @property
     def fence_action(self):
         action_result = crmshutils.get_property("stonith-action")
diff --git a/crmsh/ui_node.py b/crmsh/ui_node.py
index 658d86561d..3982af5281 100644
--- a/crmsh/ui_node.py
+++ b/crmsh/ui_node.py
@@ -484,6 +484,9 @@ def do_fence(self, context, node):
         'usage: fence <node>'
         if not utils.is_name_sane(node):
             return False
+        if not utils.has_stonith_running():
+            logger.error("fence command requires stonith device configured and running")
+            return False
         if not config.core.force and \
                 not utils.ask("Fencing %s will shut down the node and migrate any resources that are running on it! Do you want to fence %s?" % (node, node)):
             return False