diff --git a/scripts/ifup.sh b/scripts/ifup.sh
index e79db66..770eb78 100755
--- a/scripts/ifup.sh
+++ b/scripts/ifup.sh
@@ -1,4 +1,11 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
+set -o errexit
+
+if ! [ -x "$(command -v brctl)" ]; then
+  >&2 echo '`brctl` could not be found; please double check that the package is installed.'
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 brctl addif virbr0 $1
 ifconfig $1 up