diff --git a/pinaxcon/settings.py b/pinaxcon/settings.py
index d0832844..7a103d8e 100644
--- a/pinaxcon/settings.py
+++ b/pinaxcon/settings.py
@@ -304,6 +304,10 @@ NOSE_ARGS = [
     '--cover-package=registrasion.controllers,registrasion.models',
 ]
 
+xmlsec_binary = '/usr/bin/xmlsec1'
+if not os.path.isfile(xmlsec_binary):
+        sys.exit('ERROR: xmlsec1 binary missing, EXITING')
+
 SAML_ATTRIBUTE_MAPPING = {
     'uid': ('username', ),
     'mail': ('email', ),
@@ -311,7 +315,7 @@ SAML_ATTRIBUTE_MAPPING = {
     'sn': ('last_name', ),
 }
 SAML_CONFIG = {
-    'xmlsec_binary': '/usr/bin/xmlsec1',
+    'xmlsec_binary': xmlsec_binary,
     'entityid': saml2_entityid,
     'attribute_map_dir': os.path.join(PACKAGE_ROOT, 'saml2/attribute-maps'),
     'service': {