Index: src/java/org/apache/james/imapserver/ImapRequestHandler.java
===================================================================
--- src/java/org/apache/james/imapserver/ImapRequestHandler.java	(revision 475827)
+++ src/java/org/apache/james/imapserver/ImapRequestHandler.java	(working copy)
@@ -124,8 +130,20 @@
             response.commandFailed( command, "Command not valid in this state" );
             return;
         }
-
-        command.process( request, response, session );
+        try {
+            
+            command.process( request, response, session );
+            
+        } catch (RuntimeException e) {
+            //
+            // This indicates a problem with JAMES.
+            // Propagating must result in a reset of the connection.
+            // So handle now 
+            //
+            getLogger().error("Process command [" + commandName + "] failed: ", e);
+            final String message = "JAMES server fault: " + e.getMessage();
+            response.commandFailed(command, message);
+        }
     }