diff --git a/bootstrap b/bootstrap
index 0d35d01ce..44f929c67 100755
--- a/bootstrap
+++ b/bootstrap
@@ -1,4 +1,10 @@
 #!/bin/sh
+
+if ! git --version >/dev/null; then
+  echo "git not installed"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 git submodule update --init
 
 # This is more portable than `which' but comes with