diff --git a/src/plugins/copilot/authwidget.cpp b/src/plugins/copilot/authwidget.cpp
index 31b4660b680..f29e3d3a150 100644
--- a/src/plugins/copilot/authwidget.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/copilot/authwidget.cpp
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ void AuthWidget::updateClient(const Utils::FilePath &nodeJs, const Utils::FilePa
     m_client = nullptr;
     setState(Tr::tr("Sign in"), false);
     m_button->setEnabled(false);
-    if (!nodeJs.exists() || !agent.exists()) {
+    if (!nodeJs.isExecutableFile() || !agent.exists()) {
         return;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/copilot/copilotplugin.cpp b/src/plugins/copilot/copilotplugin.cpp
index 43effda321c..526a6061cbe 100644
--- a/src/plugins/copilot/copilotplugin.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/copilot/copilotplugin.cpp
@@ -120,6 +120,9 @@ void CopilotPlugin::extensionsInitialized()
 void CopilotPlugin::restartClient()
 {
     LanguageClient::LanguageClientManager::shutdownClient(m_client);
+
+    if (!CopilotSettings::instance().nodeJsPath().isExecutableFile())
+        return;
     m_client = new CopilotClient(CopilotSettings::instance().nodeJsPath(),
                                  CopilotSettings::instance().distPath());
 }