diff --git a/src/main/python/apache/aurora/executor/aurora_executor.py b/src/main/python/apache/aurora/executor/aurora_executor.py
index 8a9958f..94f58a1 100644
--- a/src/main/python/apache/aurora/executor/aurora_executor.py
+++ b/src/main/python/apache/aurora/executor/aurora_executor.py
@@ -155,6 +155,9 @@
     except Timeout:
       self._die(driver, mesos_pb2.TASK_LOST, 'Timed out waiting for task to start!')
       return False
+    except Exception as e:
+      self._die(driver, mesos_pb2.TASK_FAILED, 'Unknown exception starting runner: %s' % e)
+      return False
 
     self.runner_started.set()
     log.debug('Task started.')
diff --git a/src/test/python/apache/aurora/executor/test_thermos_executor.py b/src/test/python/apache/aurora/executor/test_thermos_executor.py
index f6ae1be..09f286c 100644
--- a/src/test/python/apache/aurora/executor/test_thermos_executor.py
+++ b/src/test/python/apache/aurora/executor/test_thermos_executor.py
@@ -83,6 +83,11 @@
     raise TaskError('I am an idiot!')
 
 
+class ErroringStartingTaskRunner(ThermosTaskRunner):
+  def start(self):
+    raise Exception('I am an idiot!')
+
+
 class FailingSandbox(DirectorySandbox):
   def __init__(self, root, exception_type, **kwargs):
     self._exception_type = exception_type
@@ -513,6 +518,20 @@
       updates = proxy_driver.method_calls['sendStatusUpdate']
       assert updates[-1][0][0].state == mesos_pb2.TASK_FAILED
 
+  def test_unknown_exception_runner_start(self):
+    proxy_driver = ProxyDriver()
+
+    with temporary_dir() as td:
+      runner_provider = make_provider(td, ErroringStartingTaskRunner)
+      te = FastThermosExecutor(
+        runner_provider=runner_provider,
+        sandbox_provider=DefaultTestSandboxProvider())
+      te.launchTask(proxy_driver, make_task(HELLO_WORLD_MTI))
+      proxy_driver.wait_stopped()
+
+      updates = proxy_driver.method_calls['sendStatusUpdate']
+      assert updates[-1][0][0].state == mesos_pb2.TASK_FAILED
+
   def test_failing_runner_initialize(self):
     proxy_driver = ProxyDriver()