--- library/Zend/Console/Getopt.php	(revision 9045)
+++ library/Zend/Console/Getopt.php	(working copy)
@@ -239,9 +239,15 @@
      * @param  array $argv
      * @param  array $getoptConfig
      * @return void
+     * @throws Zend_Exception
      */
     public function __construct($rules, $argv = null, $getoptConfig = array())
     {
+        if (!isset($_SERVER['argv'])) {
+            require_once 'Zend/Exception.php';
+            throw new Zend_Exception('No argv available, register_argc_argv is probably set to Off');
+        }
+
         $this->_progname = $_SERVER['argv'][0];
         $this->setOptions($getoptConfig);
         $this->addRules($rules);