diff --git a/ryu/app/ofctl/exception.py b/ryu/app/ofctl/exception.py
index 01557488..0c6555ac 100644
--- a/ryu/app/ofctl/exception.py
+++ b/ryu/app/ofctl/exception.py
@@ -35,3 +35,12 @@ class OFError(_ExceptionBase):
     """OFPErrorMsg is received."""
 
     message = 'OpenFlow errors %(result)s'
+
+
+class InvalidDatapath(_ExceptionBase):
+    """Datapath is invalid.
+
+    This can happen when the bridge disconnects.
+    """
+
+    message = 'Datapath Invalid %(result)s'
diff --git a/ryu/app/ofctl/service.py b/ryu/app/ofctl/service.py
index bc05f878..2e04c27d 100644
--- a/ryu/app/ofctl/service.py
+++ b/ryu/app/ofctl/service.py
@@ -109,18 +109,26 @@ class OfctlService(app_manager.RyuApp):
 
     @set_ev_cls(event.SendMsgRequest, MAIN_DISPATCHER)
     def _handle_send_msg(self, req):
+        msg = req.msg
+        datapath = msg.datapath
+
+        try:
+            si = self._switches[datapath.id]
+        except KeyError:
+            self.logger.error('unknown dpid %s' % (datapath.id,))
+            rep = event.Reply(exception=exception.
+                              InvalidDatapath(result=datapath.id))
+            self.reply_to_request(req, rep)
+            return
+
         if req.reply_cls is not None:
             self._observe_msg(req.reply_cls)
 
-        msg = req.msg
-        datapath = msg.datapath
         datapath.set_xid(msg)
         xid = msg.xid
         barrier = datapath.ofproto_parser.OFPBarrierRequest(datapath)
         datapath.set_xid(barrier)
         barrier_xid = barrier.xid
-
-        si = self._switches[datapath.id]
         assert xid not in si.results
         assert xid not in si.xids
         assert barrier_xid not in si.barriers