diff --git a/data_for_test.go b/data_for_test.go
index 6658eac..11bf2bc 100644
--- a/data_for_test.go
+++ b/data_for_test.go
@@ -1434,4 +1434,38 @@ var suites = []FixtureSuite{
 			},
 		},
 	},
+	// exec with non-existent command should fail gracefully
+	{
+		{
+			Name: "exec non-existent command should not panic",
+			Config: FixtureConfig{
+				CliArgs: []string{"exec", "--endpoint", "{{endpoint}}", "command-that-does-not-exist-anywhere"},
+			},
+			Expect: Results{
+				SpanCount: 1,
+				ExitCode:  127, // exit 127 like shell does for "command not found"
+				Config:    otelcli.DefaultConfig().WithEndpoint("{{endpoint}}"),
+			},
+			CheckFuncs: []CheckFunc{
+				func(t *testing.T, f Fixture, r Results) {
+					// should send a span with error status
+					if r.Span == nil {
+						t.Errorf("expected a span to be sent even when command fails to start")
+						return
+					}
+					if r.Span.Status == nil {
+						t.Errorf("expected span status to be set")
+						return
+					}
+					if r.Span.Status.Code != 2 { // STATUS_CODE_ERROR
+						t.Errorf("expected span status code ERROR (2), got %d", r.Span.Status.Code)
+					}
+					// error message should mention the command failure
+					if !strings.Contains(r.Span.Status.Message, "exec command failed") {
+						t.Errorf("expected error message to contain 'exec command failed', got: %q", r.Span.Status.Message)
+					}
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	},
 }
diff --git a/otelcli/exec.go b/otelcli/exec.go
index 7a6e24b..0a9df63 100644
--- a/otelcli/exec.go
+++ b/otelcli/exec.go
@@ -146,8 +146,11 @@ func doExec(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 
 	// append process attributes
 	span.Attributes = append(span.Attributes, processAttrs...)
-	pidAttrs := processPidAttrs(config, int64(child.Process.Pid), int64(os.Getpid()))
-	span.Attributes = append(span.Attributes, pidAttrs...)
+	// child.Process is nil if the command failed to start (e.g., command not found)
+	if child.Process != nil {
+		pidAttrs := processPidAttrs(config, int64(child.Process.Pid), int64(os.Getpid()))
+		span.Attributes = append(span.Attributes, pidAttrs...)
+	}
 
 	cancelCtxDeadline()
 	close(signals)
@@ -169,7 +172,14 @@ func doExec(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 	}
 
 	// set the global exit code so main() can grab it and os.Exit() properly
-	Diag.ExecExitCode = child.ProcessState.ExitCode()
+	// ProcessState is nil if the command failed to start
+	if child.ProcessState != nil {
+		Diag.ExecExitCode = child.ProcessState.ExitCode()
+	} else {
+		// command failed to start (e.g., command not found)
+		// use exit code 127 to match shell behavior for "command not found"
+		Diag.ExecExitCode = 127
+	}
 
 	config.PropagateTraceparent(span, os.Stdout)
 }