diff --git a/pkg/action/get.go b/pkg/action/get.go
index 7b3b0b24e..0690ce0db 100644
--- a/pkg/action/get.go
+++ b/pkg/action/get.go
@@ -38,5 +38,9 @@ func NewGet(cfg *Configuration) *Get {
 
 // Run executes 'helm get' against the given release.
 func (g *Get) Run(name string) (*release.Release, error) {
+	if err := g.cfg.KubeClient.IsReachable(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	return g.cfg.releaseContent(name, g.Version)
 }
diff --git a/pkg/action/history.go b/pkg/action/history.go
index 5b7f028bd..b2933585e 100644
--- a/pkg/action/history.go
+++ b/pkg/action/history.go
@@ -41,6 +41,10 @@ func NewHistory(cfg *Configuration) *History {
 
 // Run executes 'helm history' against the given release.
 func (h *History) Run(name string) ([]*release.Release, error) {
+	if err := h.cfg.KubeClient.IsReachable(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	if err := validateReleaseName(name); err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.Errorf("release name is invalid: %s", name)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/action/install.go b/pkg/action/install.go
index a185667de..1c073be14 100644
--- a/pkg/action/install.go
+++ b/pkg/action/install.go
@@ -107,6 +107,10 @@ func NewInstall(cfg *Configuration) *Install {
 //
 // If DryRun is set to true, this will prepare the release, but not install it
 func (i *Install) Run(chrt *chart.Chart, vals map[string]interface{}) (*release.Release, error) {
+	if err := i.cfg.KubeClient.IsReachable(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	if err := i.availableName(); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/action/list.go b/pkg/action/list.go
index 1d5738d11..f502269c6 100644
--- a/pkg/action/list.go
+++ b/pkg/action/list.go
@@ -140,6 +140,10 @@ func NewList(cfg *Configuration) *List {
 
 // Run executes the list command, returning a set of matches.
 func (l *List) Run() ([]*release.Release, error) {
+	if err := l.cfg.KubeClient.IsReachable(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	var filter *regexp.Regexp
 	if l.Filter != "" {
 		var err error
diff --git a/pkg/action/rollback.go b/pkg/action/rollback.go
index 08279acf9..46b4e7166 100644
--- a/pkg/action/rollback.go
+++ b/pkg/action/rollback.go
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ func NewRollback(cfg *Configuration) *Rollback {
 
 // Run executes 'helm rollback' against the given release.
 func (r *Rollback) Run(name string) error {
+	if err := r.cfg.KubeClient.IsReachable(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	r.cfg.Log("preparing rollback of %s", name)
 	currentRelease, targetRelease, err := r.prepareRollback(name)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/action/status.go b/pkg/action/status.go
index 6297e28ca..dea9c0351 100644
--- a/pkg/action/status.go
+++ b/pkg/action/status.go
@@ -39,5 +39,9 @@ func NewStatus(cfg *Configuration) *Status {
 
 // Run executes 'helm status' against the given release.
 func (s *Status) Run(name string) (*release.Release, error) {
+	if err := s.cfg.KubeClient.IsReachable(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	return s.cfg.releaseContent(name, s.Version)
 }
diff --git a/pkg/action/uninstall.go b/pkg/action/uninstall.go
index 6dec73e40..4d42403bd 100644
--- a/pkg/action/uninstall.go
+++ b/pkg/action/uninstall.go
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ func NewUninstall(cfg *Configuration) *Uninstall {
 
 // Run uninstalls the given release.
 func (u *Uninstall) Run(name string) (*release.UninstallReleaseResponse, error) {
+	if err := u.cfg.KubeClient.IsReachable(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	if u.DryRun {
 		// In the dry run case, just see if the release exists
 		r, err := u.cfg.releaseContent(name, 0)