diff --git a/utils/const_str_hash b/utils/const_str_hash
index ccfe1ae32..0d18742ae 100755
--- a/utils/const_str_hash
+++ b/utils/const_str_hash
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 use strict;
 use warnings;
 use IPC::Open2;
+use IPC::Cmd qw[can_run];
+
+can_run('gperf') or die 'No gperf binary found, make sure to have gperf installed!';
 
 print("/******** GENERATED FILE ********/\n");