diff --git a/setup.sh b/setup.sh
index 58aabd507..11a36380c 100755
--- a/setup.sh
+++ b/setup.sh
@@ -17,6 +17,11 @@ function check_installed_python() {
         return
    fi
 
+   if [ -z ${PYTHON} ]; then
+        echo "No usable python found. Please make sure to have python3.6 or python3.7 installed"
+        exit 1
+   fi
+
 }
 
 function updateenv () {