diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Console/Command/Command.php b/src/Symfony/Component/Console/Command/Command.php
index 3d3f2c14d7..e4b8fb0aa7 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/Console/Command/Command.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Console/Command/Command.php
@@ -537,10 +537,15 @@ class Command
      *
      * @return mixed The helper value
      *
+     * @throws \LogicException           if no HelperSet is defined
      * @throws \InvalidArgumentException if the helper is not defined
      */
     public function getHelper($name)
     {
+        if (null === $this->helperSet) {
+            throw new \LogicException(sprintf('Cannot retrieve helper "%s" because there is no HelperSet defined. Did you forget to add your command to the application or to set the application on the command using the setApplication() method? You can also set the HelperSet directly using the setHelperSet() method.', $name));
+        }
+
         return $this->helperSet->get($name);
     }
 
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Console/Tests/Command/CommandTest.php b/src/Symfony/Component/Console/Tests/Command/CommandTest.php
index baa7c7e3df..c066bebf2e 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/Console/Tests/Command/CommandTest.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Console/Tests/Command/CommandTest.php
@@ -173,6 +173,16 @@ class CommandTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
         $this->assertEquals($formatterHelper->getName(), $command->getHelper('formatter')->getName(), '->getHelper() returns the correct helper');
     }
 
+    /**
+     * @expectedException        \LogicException
+     * @expectedExceptionMessage Cannot retrieve helper "formatter" because there is no HelperSet defined.
+     */
+    public function testGetHelperWithoutHelperSet()
+    {
+        $command = new \TestCommand();
+        $command->getHelper('formatter');
+    }
+
     public function testMergeApplicationDefinition()
     {
         $application1 = new Application();