diff --git a/src/blackcore/context/contextsimulatorimpl.cpp b/src/blackcore/context/contextsimulatorimpl.cpp
index 1e6dd02e6..27ad97dc6 100644
--- a/src/blackcore/context/contextsimulatorimpl.cpp
+++ b/src/blackcore/context/contextsimulatorimpl.cpp
@@ -447,7 +447,20 @@ namespace BlackCore
             this->setRemoteAircraftProvider(renderedAircraftProvider);
 
             // use simulator info from ISimulator as it can access the emulated driver settings
-            const CSimulatorInfo simInfo = simulator->getSimulatorInfo();
+            CSimulatorInfo simInfo = simulator->getSimulatorInfo();
+            if (!simInfo.isSingleSimulator())
+            {
+                BLACK_VERIFY_X(false, Q_FUNC_INFO, "Invalid simulator from plugin");
+                simInfo = CSimulatorInfo::p3d();
+                if (simulator->isEmulatedDriver())
+                {
+                    CLogMessage(this).error(u"Emulated driver does NOT provide valid simulator, using default '%1', plugin: '%2'") << simInfo.toQString(true) << simulatorPluginInfo.toQString(true);
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    CLogMessage(this).error(u"Invalid driver using default '%1', plugin: '%2'") << simInfo.toQString(true) << simulatorPluginInfo.toQString(true);
+                }
+            }
             Q_ASSERT_X(simInfo.isSingleSimulator(), Q_FUNC_INFO, "need single simulator");
 
             m_modelSetSimulator.set(simInfo);
diff --git a/src/plugins/simulator/emulated/simulatoremulated.cpp b/src/plugins/simulator/emulated/simulatoremulated.cpp
index 7b98cab38..dc4e1cf80 100644
--- a/src/plugins/simulator/emulated/simulatoremulated.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/simulator/emulated/simulatoremulated.cpp
@@ -384,7 +384,11 @@ namespace BlackSimPlugin
             }
             else
             {
-                CLogMessage(this).validationError(u"No valid plugin for '%1'") << simulator.toQString();
+                // not all drivers are installed
+                CLogMessage(this).validationError(u"No valid plugin in emulated driver for '%1'") << simulator.toQString();
+                const QString sn = simulator.toQString(true);
+                const CSimulatorPluginInfo fakedPlugin = CSimulatorPluginInfo(simulator.toPluginIdentifier(), sn, sn, QStringLiteral("Emulated, but uninstalled '%1'").arg(sn), false);
+                this->setNewPluginInfo(fakedPlugin, settings.getDefaultModel());
             }
 
             // update provider, own name, title