diff --git a/lib/robot.js b/lib/robot.js
index 9fff1eb..fe8653c 100644
--- a/lib/robot.js
+++ b/lib/robot.js
@@ -257,8 +257,12 @@ Robot.prototype.start = function() {
     if (!!err) {
       Logger.fatal("An error occured while trying to start the robot:");
       Logger.fatal(err);
+      if (typoef(this.error) === 'function') {
+        this.error.call(this, err);
+      }
+      this.emit('error', err);
     }
-  });
+  }.bind(this));
 
   return this;
 };