diff --git a/cli/src/build.ts b/cli/src/build.ts
index 8eaad78b96..253201246f 100644
--- a/cli/src/build.ts
+++ b/cli/src/build.ts
@@ -305,6 +305,21 @@ export class BuildCommand extends Command {
     }
 
     if (this.useZig || isCrossForLinux || isCrossForMacOS) {
+      try {
+        execSync('zig version')
+      } catch (e) {
+        if (this.useZig) {
+          throw new TypeError(
+            `Could not find ${chalk.green('zig')} on the PATH`,
+          )
+        } else {
+          debug(
+            `Could not find ${chalk.green(
+              'zig',
+            )} on the PATH, fallback to normal linker`,
+          )
+        }
+      }
       const zigABIVersion =
         this.zigABIVersion ?? (isCrossForLinux && triple.abi === 'gnu')
           ? DEFAULT_GLIBC_TARGET