diff --git a/streaming/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/streaming/scheduler/ReceiverTracker.scala b/streaming/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/streaming/scheduler/ReceiverTracker.scala
index 5307fe189d717..0c563a4a9947e 100644
--- a/streaming/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/streaming/scheduler/ReceiverTracker.scala
+++ b/streaming/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/streaming/scheduler/ReceiverTracker.scala
@@ -272,7 +272,15 @@ class ReceiverTracker(ssc: StreamingContext) extends Logging {
 
       // Distribute the receivers and start them
       logInfo("Starting " + receivers.length + " receivers")
-      ssc.sparkContext.runJob(tempRDD, startReceiver)
+      try {
+        ssc.sparkContext.runJob(tempRDD, startReceiver)
+      } catch {
+        case e : Throwable => 
+          logError("receiver job crashed, detail:" + e.getStackTraceString)
+          // find a better way to stop the application ? make other stages depend on  tempRdd ?
+          ssc.stop()
+          System.exit(1)
+      }
       logInfo("All of the receivers have been terminated")
     }