diff --git a/scripts/coccicheck b/scripts/coccicheck
index f662786..f137b04 100755
--- a/scripts/coccicheck
+++ b/scripts/coccicheck
@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@
 
 SPATCH="`which ${SPATCH:=spatch}`"
 
+if [ ! -x "$SPATCH" ]; then
+    echo 'spatch is part of the Coccinelle project and is available at http://coccinelle.lip6.fr/'
+    exit 1
+fi
+
 trap kill_running SIGTERM SIGINT
 declare -a SPATCH_PID
 
@@ -51,11 +56,6 @@
     OPTIONS="--patch $srctree $OPTIONS"
 fi
 
-if [ ! -x "$SPATCH" ]; then
-    echo 'spatch is part of the Coccinelle project and is available at http://coccinelle.lip6.fr/'
-    exit 1
-fi
-
 if [ "$MODE" = "" ] ; then
     if [ "$ONLINE" = "0" ] ; then
 	echo 'You have not explicitly specified the mode to use. Using default "report" mode.'