diff --git a/lib/reporters/xunit.js b/lib/reporters/xunit.js
index 08f7b4cac3..b46035ed94 100644
--- a/lib/reporters/xunit.js
+++ b/lib/reporters/xunit.js
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ var clearInterval = global.clearInterval;
 
 exports = module.exports = XUnit;
 
+
 /**
  * Initialize a new `XUnit` reporter.
  *
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ function XUnit (runner, options) {
   var tests = [];
   var self = this;
 
-  if (options.reporterOptions && options.reporterOptions.output) {
+  if (options && options.reporterOptions && options.reporterOptions.output) {
     if (!fs.createWriteStream) {
       throw new Error('file output not supported in browser');
     }