diff --git a/python/lib/facter/python.rb b/python/lib/facter/python.rb
index 3506f7e..0b39745 100644
--- a/python/lib/facter/python.rb
+++ b/python/lib/facter/python.rb
@@ -3,9 +3,14 @@ Facter.add('pythonsitedir') do
         if File.exists?('/usr/local/bin/python')
             pythonbin='/usr/local/bin/python'
         else
-            pythonbin='python'
+            system('which python > /dev/null 2>&1')
+            if $? == 0
+                pythonbin='python'
+            end
+        end
+        if pythonbin
+            %x{#{pythonbin} -c "from distutils.sysconfig import get_python_lib; print get_python_lib()"}.chomp
         end
-        %x{#{pythonbin} -c "from distutils.sysconfig import get_python_lib; print get_python_lib()"}.chomp
     end
 end
 
@@ -14,8 +19,13 @@ Facter.add('pythonversion') do
         if File.exists?('/usr/local/bin/python')
             pythonbin='/usr/local/bin/python'
         else
-            pythonbin='python'
+            system('which python > /dev/null 2>&1')
+            if $? == 0
+                pythonbin='python'
+            end
+        end
+        if pythonbin
+            %x{#{pythonbin} -c "import platform; print platform.python_version()"}.chomp
         end
-        %x{#{pythonbin} -c "import platform; print platform.python_version()"}.chomp
     end
 end