diff --git a/commands.go b/commands.go
index b0440a9766..de814d6648 100644
--- a/commands.go
+++ b/commands.go
@@ -836,6 +836,10 @@ func (srv *Server) CmdAttach(stdin io.ReadCloser, stdout rcli.DockerConn, args .
 		return fmt.Errorf("No such container: %s", name)
 	}
 
+	if container.State.Ghost {
+		return fmt.Errorf("Impossible to attach to a ghost container")
+	}
+
 	if container.Config.Tty {
 		stdout.SetOptionRawTerminal()
 	}