diff --git a/frontends/src/jp/base.py b/frontends/src/jp/base.py
index c3b05a95..d638ddf4 100644
--- a/frontends/src/jp/base.py
+++ b/frontends/src/jp/base.py
@@ -753,7 +753,11 @@ class CommandBase(object):
         return self.host.disp(msg, verbosity, error)
 
     def output(self, data):
-        return self.host.output(self._output_type, self.args.output, self.extra_outputs, data)
+        try:
+            output_type = self._output_type
+        except AttributeError:
+            raise exceptions.InternalError(_(u'trying to use output when use_output has not been set'))
+        return self.host.output(output_type, self.args.output, self.extra_outputs, data)
 
     def errback(self, failure_):
         """generic callback for errbacks