diff --git a/lib/linter.js b/lib/linter.js
index 649b4e6..ec87f42 100644
--- a/lib/linter.js
+++ b/lib/linter.js
@@ -29,7 +29,13 @@ module.exports = function (cwd, args, text) {
   process.chdir(cwd);
   var cwdEslint = eslintMap[cwd];
   if (!cwdEslint) {
-    var cwdPath = resolve.sync('eslint', { basedir: cwd });
+    var cwdPath;
+    // resolve will throw an error, if module not found
+    try {
+      cwdPath = resolve.sync('eslint', { basedir: cwd });
+    } catch (e) {
+      // module not found
+    }
     cwdEslint = cwdPath ? require(cwdPath) : require('eslint');
     eslintMap[cwd] = cwdEslint;
   }