diff --git a/Lib/idlelib/EditorWindow.py b/Lib/idlelib/EditorWindow.py
index 442d718..397d12e 100644
--- a/Lib/idlelib/EditorWindow.py
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/EditorWindow.py
@@ -85,6 +85,10 @@
         self.flist = flist
         root = root or flist.root
         self.root = root
+        try:
+            sys.ps1
+        except AttributeError:
+            sys.ps1 = '>>> '
         self.menubar = Menu(root)
         self.top = top = WindowList.ListedToplevel(root, menu=self.menubar)
         if flist:
diff --git a/Lib/idlelib/NEWS.txt b/Lib/idlelib/NEWS.txt
index 5ea5b0e..ba624e5 100644
--- a/Lib/idlelib/NEWS.txt
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/NEWS.txt
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 
 *Release date: XX-XXX-2006*
 
+- EditorWindow failed when used stand-alone if sys.ps1 not set.
+  Bug 1010370 Dave Florek
+
 - Tooltips failed on new-syle class __init__ args.  Bug 1027566 Loren Guthrie
 
 - Avoid occasional failure to detect closing paren properly.
diff --git a/Lib/idlelib/PyShell.py b/Lib/idlelib/PyShell.py
index f7622f1..227372e 100644
--- a/Lib/idlelib/PyShell.py
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/PyShell.py
@@ -1306,10 +1306,6 @@
     script = None
     startup = False
     try:
-        sys.ps1
-    except AttributeError:
-        sys.ps1 = '>>> '
-    try:
         opts, args = getopt.getopt(sys.argv[1:], "c:deihnr:st:")
     except getopt.error, msg:
         sys.stderr.write("Error: %s\n" % str(msg))