diff --git a/create-workspace.py b/create-workspace.py
index 8eb6d69a9..ffd2bcc26 100755
--- a/create-workspace.py
+++ b/create-workspace.py
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ def check_programs(programs, available=False):
                 subprocess.check_call(args, stdout=devnull)
 
             ok.append(program)
-        except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
+        except (OSError, subprocess.CalledProcessError):
             messages.append(message)
 
     if available: