diff --git a/bin/next-start b/bin/next-start
index 85d9eb81..f4100efc 100755
--- a/bin/next-start
+++ b/bin/next-start
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import { resolve } from 'path'
 import parseArgs from 'minimist'
 import Server from '../server'
+import { existsSync } from 'fs'
 
 const argv = parseArgs(process.argv.slice(2), {
   alias: {
@@ -38,6 +39,12 @@ if (argv.help) {
 const dir = resolve(argv._[0] || '.')
 
 const srv = new Server({ dir })
+
+if (!existsSync(resolve(dir, '.next'))) {
+  console.error(`> Could not find the '.next' directory! Try building your app with 'next build' before starting the server.`)
+  process.exit(1)
+}
+
 srv.start(argv.port)
 .then(() => {
   if (!process.env.NOW) {
@@ -48,3 +55,4 @@ srv.start(argv.port)
   console.error(err)
   process.exit(1)
 })
+