An air compressor with an internal combustion engine having an engine oil sump, a compressor driven by the internal combustion engine and having a compressor oil sump, and a controller coupled to the internal combustion engine. The controller is configured to halt the operation of the internal combustion engine in response to either a low oil condition in the engine oil sump or a low oil condition in the compressor oil sump. A method for the operation of an air compressor is also provided.