diff --git a/_pytest/capture.py b/_pytest/capture.py
index 164d5538b..1f4762b06 100644
--- a/_pytest/capture.py
+++ b/_pytest/capture.py
@@ -240,6 +240,8 @@ class EncodedFile(object):
     def __getattr__(self, name):
         if hasattr(self, "buffer"):
             return getattr(self.buffer, name)
+        else:
+            raise AttributeError("attribute buffer of %r not set" % self)
 
 
 class MultiCapture(object):
diff --git a/_pytest/main.py b/_pytest/main.py
index cbe2fabda..1be074243 100644
--- a/_pytest/main.py
+++ b/_pytest/main.py
@@ -159,6 +159,8 @@ class HookProxy:
         self.config = config
 
     def __getattr__(self, name):
+        if not hasattr(self, "config"):
+            raise AttributeError("attribute config of %r not set" % self)
         hookmethod = getattr(self.config.hook, name)
 
         def call_matching_hooks(**kwargs):