diff --git a/RLTest/env.py b/RLTest/env.py
index 02510083..3c20df9f 100644
--- a/RLTest/env.py
+++ b/RLTest/env.py
@@ -452,7 +452,8 @@ def expect(self, *query, **options):
         return Query(self, *query, **options)
 
     def cmd(self, *query, **options):
-        res = self.con.execute_command(*query, **options)
+        conn = options.pop('conn', self.con)
+        res = conn.execute_command(*query, **options)
         self.debugPrint('query: %s, result: %s' % (repr(query), repr(res)))
         return res
 
diff --git a/RLTest/redis_std.py b/RLTest/redis_std.py
index 51b9f914..d0999f4a 100644
--- a/RLTest/redis_std.py
+++ b/RLTest/redis_std.py
@@ -332,6 +332,8 @@ def startEnv(self, masters = True, slaves = True):
 
         self.envIsUp = self.masterProcess is not None or self.slaveProcess is not None
         self.envIsHealthy = self.masterProcess is not None and (self.slaveProcess is not None if self.useSlaves else True)
+        if not self.envIsUp or not self.envIsHealthy:
+            raise Exception('Failed to start environment')
 
     def _isAlive(self, process):
         if not process:
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 5036b15f..3fb2488e 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "RLTest"
-version = "0.5.12"
+version = "0.5.13"
 description="Redis Labs Test Framework, allow to run tests on redis and modules on a variety of environments"
 authors = ["RedisLabs <oss@redislabs.com>"]
 license = "BSD-3-Clause"