diff --git a/shared/bin/pcap_processor.py b/shared/bin/pcap_processor.py
index 7e9430f27..843d634d8 100755
--- a/shared/bin/pcap_processor.py
+++ b/shared/bin/pcap_processor.py
@@ -44,7 +44,8 @@
 try:
     from suricata_socket import SuricataSocketClient
 except ImportError:
-    SuricataSocketClient = None
+    # this will blow up later on instantiation, of course
+    SuricataSocketClient = object
 
 ###################################################################################################
 MAX_WORKER_PROCESSES_DEFAULT = 1