diff --git a/server/src/com/cloud/api/commands/ListVMsCmd.java b/server/src/com/cloud/api/commands/ListVMsCmd.java
index a78cbc2e400..59d226340dc 100644
--- a/server/src/com/cloud/api/commands/ListVMsCmd.java
+++ b/server/src/com/cloud/api/commands/ListVMsCmd.java
@@ -118,6 +118,10 @@ public class ListVMsCmd extends BaseCmd {
             domainId = account.getDomainId();
         }
 
+        if(account!=null && domainId==null){
+        	throw new ServerApiException(BaseCmd.ACCOUNT_ERROR, "Please specify the domain id for this account:"+account.getId());
+        }
+        
         Long[] accountIds = null;
         if (accountId != null) {
             accountIds = new Long[1];