diff --git a/ConfigureChecks.cmake b/ConfigureChecks.cmake
index 05a3523f..4b05d048 100644
--- a/ConfigureChecks.cmake
+++ b/ConfigureChecks.cmake
@@ -33,7 +33,11 @@ CONFIGURE_FILE(libyasm-stdint.h.cmake
 CONFIGURE_FILE(config.h.cmake ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/config.h)
 
 ADD_DEFINITIONS(-DHAVE_CONFIG_H)
+
 INCLUDE(FindPythonInterp)
+IF (NOT PYTHON_EXECUTABLE)
+    MESSAGE(FATAL_ERROR "Could not find Python executable")
+ENDIF (NOT PYTHON_EXECUTABLE)
 
 IF (CMAKE_COMPILER_IS_GNUCXX)
     CHECK_C_COMPILER_FLAG(-pipe C_ACCEPTS_PIPE)