diff --git a/.idea/runConfigurations/server_dart.xml b/.idea/runConfigurations/server_dart.xml
index 84a78f11..fb2c1fc1 100644
--- a/.idea/runConfigurations/server_dart.xml
+++ b/.idea/runConfigurations/server_dart.xml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <component name="ProjectRunConfigurationManager">
   <configuration default="false" name="server.dart" type="DartCommandLineRunConfigurationType" factoryName="Dart Command Line Application" singleton="true" nameIsGenerated="true">
-    <option name="VMOptions" value="--enable-vm-service" />
+    <option name="VMOptions" value="--observe" />
     <option name="filePath" value="$PROJECT_DIR$/example/basic/server.dart" />
     <option name="workingDirectory" value="$PROJECT_DIR$/example/basic" />
     <method />
diff --git a/.idea/runConfigurations/server_dart__No_VM_service_.xml b/.idea/runConfigurations/server_dart__No_VM_service_.xml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a1392790
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.idea/runConfigurations/server_dart__No_VM_service_.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+<component name="ProjectRunConfigurationManager">
+  <configuration default="false" name="server.dart (No VM service)" type="DartCommandLineRunConfigurationType" factoryName="Dart Command Line Application" singleton="true">
+    <option name="filePath" value="$PROJECT_DIR$/example/basic/server.dart" />
+    <option name="workingDirectory" value="$PROJECT_DIR$/example/basic" />
+    <method />
+  </configuration>
+</component>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/angel_hot.dart b/lib/angel_hot.dart
index eae4fa62..5e904729 100644
--- a/lib/angel_hot.dart
+++ b/lib/angel_hot.dart
@@ -132,6 +132,13 @@ class HotReloader {
   }
 
   _listenToFilesystem() async {
+    if (!Platform.executableArguments.contains('--observe') &&
+        !Platform.executableArguments.contains('--enable-vm-service')) {
+      stderr.writeln(
+          'WARNING: You have instantiated a HotReloader without passing `--enable-vm-service` or `--observe` to the Dart VM. Hot reloading will be disabled.');
+      return;
+    }
+
     for (var path in _paths) {
       if (path is String) {
         await _listenToStat(path);
diff --git a/pubspec.yaml b/pubspec.yaml
index 0429ba91..43939d79 100644
--- a/pubspec.yaml
+++ b/pubspec.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 name: angel_hot
 description: Supports hot reloading of Angel servers on file changes.
-version: 1.0.0
+version: 1.0.1
 author: Tobe O <thosakwe@gmail.com>
 homepage: https://github.com/angel-dart/hot
 environment: