diff --git a/pisi/actionsapi/get.py b/pisi/actionsapi/get.py
index 3741212c..dfd3345a 100644
--- a/pisi/actionsapi/get.py
+++ b/pisi/actionsapi/get.py
@@ -89,8 +89,29 @@ def defaultprefixDIR():
 
 # Binutils Variables
 
-def getBinutilsInfo(needed):
-    return '%s-%s' % (HOST(), needed)
+def exists_binary(bin):
+    # determine if path has binary
+    path = os.environ['PATH'].split(':')
+    for directory in path:
+        if os.path.exists(os.path.join(directory, bin) ):
+            return True
+    return False
+
+class BinutilsError:
+    pass
+
+def getBinutilsInfo(util):
+    cross_build_name = '%s-%s' % (HOST(), util)
+    if not exists_binary(cross_build_name):
+        if not exists_binary(util):
+            #ui.error('Error: util %s cannot be found' % util)
+            raise BinutilsError('util %s cannot be found' % util)
+        else:
+            ui.debug('Warning: %s does not exist, using plain name %s'
+                     % (cross_build_name, util))
+            return util
+    else:
+        return cross_build_name
 
 def AR():
     return getBinutilsInfo('ar')