diff --git a/process.go b/process.go
index ff7d838cd..42f3b84a9 100644
--- a/process.go
+++ b/process.go
@@ -111,9 +111,11 @@ func (p *process) Start(ctx context.Context) error {
 		ExecID:      p.id,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		p.io.Cancel()
-		p.io.Wait()
-		p.io.Close()
+		if p.io != nil {
+			p.io.Cancel()
+			p.io.Wait()
+			p.io.Close()
+		}
 		return errdefs.FromGRPC(err)
 	}
 	p.pid = r.Pid
diff --git a/task.go b/task.go
index 239b855d7..9deb66c7e 100644
--- a/task.go
+++ b/task.go
@@ -189,8 +189,10 @@ func (t *task) Start(ctx context.Context) error {
 		ContainerID: t.id,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		t.io.Cancel()
-		t.io.Close()
+		if t.io != nil {
+			t.io.Cancel()
+			t.io.Close()
+		}
 		return errdefs.FromGRPC(err)
 	}
 	t.pid = r.Pid