diff --git a/plugins/CuraEngineBackend/CuraEngineBackend.py b/plugins/CuraEngineBackend/CuraEngineBackend.py
index b163386867..f61e3fde81 100644
--- a/plugins/CuraEngineBackend/CuraEngineBackend.py
+++ b/plugins/CuraEngineBackend/CuraEngineBackend.py
@@ -94,10 +94,13 @@ class CuraEngineBackend(Backend):
     #   \return list of commands and args / parameters.
     def getEngineCommand(self):
         active_machine = Application.getInstance().getMachineManager().getActiveMachineInstance()
+        json_path = ""
         if not active_machine:
-            return None
+            json_path = Resources.getPath(Resources.MachineDefinitions, "fdmprinter.json")
+        else:
+            json_path = active_machine.getMachineDefinition().getPath()
 
-        return [Preferences.getInstance().getValue("backend/location"), "connect", "127.0.0.1:{0}".format(self._port), "-j", active_machine.getMachineDefinition().getPath(), "-vv"]
+        return [Preferences.getInstance().getValue("backend/location"), "connect", "127.0.0.1:{0}".format(self._port), "-j", json_path, "-vv"]
 
     ##  Emitted when we get a message containing print duration and material amount. This also implies the slicing has finished.
     #   \param time The amount of time the print will take.