A LIBS analyzer, preferably handheld, includes a laser configured to produce a plasma on a sample and a spectrometer responsive to radiation emitted from the plasma and configured to produce a spectrum. A controller subsystem is configured to control energizing the laser and to analyze the resulting spectrum from each laser pulse to determine if the laser is aimed at a sample. If the analyzed spectrum reveals the laser is not aimed at the sample, the controller subsystem halts the laser puke sequence.