diff --git a/IPython/core/ipapi.py b/IPython/core/ipapi.py
index dc1f1f5..8ee88a2 100644
--- a/IPython/core/ipapi.py
+++ b/IPython/core/ipapi.py
@@ -18,16 +18,19 @@ has been made into a component, this module will be sent to deathrow.
 # Imports
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-from IPython.core.error import TryNext, UsageError
+from IPython.core.error import TryNext, UsageError, IPythonCoreError
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Classes and functions
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+
 def get():
     """Get the most recently created InteractiveShell instance."""
     from IPython.core.iplib import InteractiveShell
     insts = InteractiveShell.get_instances()
+    if len(insts)==0:
+        return None
     most_recent = insts[0]
     for inst in insts[1:]:
         if inst.created > most_recent.created: