diff --git a/src/client/debugger/Main.ts b/src/client/debugger/Main.ts
index e99a1a81e2aa..5cf08b201cf8 100644
--- a/src/client/debugger/Main.ts
+++ b/src/client/debugger/Main.ts
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ export class PythonDebugger extends DebugSession {
         }
         else {
             // When using modules ensure the cwd has been provided
-            if (typeof args.cwd !== 'string' || args.cwd.length === 0 || this.launchArgs.cwd === 'null') {
+            if (typeof args.cwd !== 'string' || args.cwd.length === 0 || (this.launchArgs && this.launchArgs.cwd === 'null')) {
                 return this.sendErrorResponse(response, 2001, `'cwd' in 'launch.json' needs to point to the working directory`);
             }
         }
@@ -674,4 +674,4 @@ export class PythonDebugger extends DebugSession {
     }
 }
 
-DebugSession.run(PythonDebugger);
\ No newline at end of file
+DebugSession.run(PythonDebugger);