diff --git a/src/main/java/org/rundeck/client/tool/commands/Projects.java b/src/main/java/org/rundeck/client/tool/commands/Projects.java
index 95c2e715..a95fccca 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/rundeck/client/tool/commands/Projects.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/rundeck/client/tool/commands/Projects.java
@@ -125,7 +125,13 @@ public boolean delete(ProjectDelete options, CommandOutput output) throws IOExce
         String project = projectOrEnv(options);
         if (!options.isConfirm()) {
             //request confirmation
-            String s = System.console().readLine("Really delete project %s? (y/N) ", project);
+            Console console = System.console();
+            String s = "n";
+            if (null != console) {
+                s = console.readLine("Really delete project %s? (y/N) ", project);
+            } else {
+                output.warning("No console input available, and --confirm/-y was not set.");
+            }
 
             if (!"y".equals(s)) {
                 output.warning(String.format("Not deleting project %s.", project));