diff --git a/patacrep/build.py b/patacrep/build.py
index 00be667e..d260d45b 100644
--- a/patacrep/build.py
+++ b/patacrep/build.py
@@ -217,9 +217,24 @@ class SongbookBuilder(object):
         LOGGER.info("Building '{}.pdf'…".format(self.basename))
         self._run_once(self._set_latex)
 
+        compiler = "lualatex"
+
+        # test if the LaTeX compiler is accessible
+        try:
+            process = Popen(
+                [compiler, "--version"],
+                stdin=PIPE,
+                stdout=PIPE,
+                stderr=PIPE,
+                env=os.environ,
+                universal_newlines=True,
+                )
+        except Exception as error:
+            raise errors.ExecutableNotFound(compiler)
+
         try:
             process = Popen(
-                ["lualatex"] + self._lualatex_options + [self.basename],
+                [compiler] + self._lualatex_options + [self.basename],
                 stdin=PIPE,
                 stdout=PIPE,
                 stderr=PIPE,
diff --git a/patacrep/errors.py b/patacrep/errors.py
index 5ec9fd9b..d1d3a74f 100644
--- a/patacrep/errors.py
+++ b/patacrep/errors.py
@@ -31,6 +31,16 @@ class TemplateError(SongbookError):
         else:
             return self.message
 
+class ExecutableNotFound(SongbookError):
+    """Couldn't find a LaTeX executable."""
+
+    def __init__(self, executable):
+        super(ExecutableNotFound, self).__init__(
+            (
+                """Could not find the following executable: {executable}"""
+                ).format(executable=executable)
+            )
+
 class StepError(SongbookError):
     """Error during execution of one compilation step."""
 
@@ -47,7 +57,7 @@ class LatexCompilationError(StepError):
     def __init__(self, basename):
         super(LatexCompilationError, self).__init__(
             (
-                """Error while pdfLaTeX compilation of "{basename}.tex" """
+                """Error while LaTeX compilation of "{basename}.tex" """
                 """(see {basename}.log for more information)."""
                 ).format(basename=basename)
             )