diff --git a/extensions/fablabchemnitz/inkcut/inkcut.py b/extensions/fablabchemnitz/inkcut/inkcut.py
index 13d009a6..56831c12 100644
--- a/extensions/fablabchemnitz/inkcut/inkcut.py
+++ b/extensions/fablabchemnitz/inkcut/inkcut.py
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ import inkex
 from lxml import etree
 from subprocess import Popen, PIPE
 from shutil import copy2
-from distutils.spawn import find_executable
 
 def contains_text(nodes):
     for node in nodes:
@@ -42,7 +41,7 @@ def convert_objects_to_paths(file, document):
 
     command = "inkscape " + tempfile + ' --actions="EditSelectAllInAllLayers;EditUnlinkClone;ObjectToPath;FileSave;FileQuit"'
 
-    if find_executable('xvfb-run'):
+    if shutil.which('xvfb-run'):
         command = 'xvfb-run -a ' + command
 
     p = Popen(command, shell=True, stdout=PIPE, stderr=PIPE)
diff --git a/extensions/fablabchemnitz/inkcut/inkcut_cut.py b/extensions/fablabchemnitz/inkcut/inkcut_cut.py
index 8203b635..54090480 100644
--- a/extensions/fablabchemnitz/inkcut/inkcut_cut.py
+++ b/extensions/fablabchemnitz/inkcut/inkcut_cut.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import os
 import sys
 
 import inkex
+import shutil
 from lxml import etree
 import subprocess
 from inkcut import contains_text, convert_objects_to_paths
@@ -58,6 +59,10 @@ class InkscapeInkcutPlugin(inkex.Effect):
             cmd = [python, inkcut]
         else:
             cmd = ['inkcut']
+            
+        if shutil.which('inkcut') is None:
+            inkex.errormsg("Error: inkcut executable not found!")
+            return
 
         cmd += ['open', '-',
                '--nodes']+[str(k) for k in nodes.keys()]
diff --git a/extensions/fablabchemnitz/inkcut/inkcut_open.py b/extensions/fablabchemnitz/inkcut/inkcut_open.py
index 8024f108..b1481939 100644
--- a/extensions/fablabchemnitz/inkcut/inkcut_open.py
+++ b/extensions/fablabchemnitz/inkcut/inkcut_open.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import os
 import sys
 import inkex
 import importlib
+import shutil
 import subprocess
 from lxml import etree
 from inkcut import convert_objects_to_paths
@@ -50,6 +51,10 @@ class InkscapeInkcutPlugin(inkex.Effect):
         else:
             cmd = ['inkcut']
 
+        if shutil.which('inkcut') is None:
+            inkex.errormsg("Error: inkcut executable not found!")
+            return
+
         document = convert_objects_to_paths(self.options.input_file, self.document)
 
         cmd += ['open', '-']