diff --git a/kubectx b/kubectx
index 9d753c9..cfa7c00 100755
--- a/kubectx
+++ b/kubectx
@@ -159,6 +159,10 @@ delete_context() {
 }
 
 main() {
+  if ! hash kubectl 2>/dev/null; then
+   echo >&2 "kubectl is not installed"
+   exit 1
+  fi
   if [[ "$#" -eq 0 ]]; then
     if [[ -t 1 &&  -z "${KUBECTX_IGNORE_FZF:-}" && "$(type fzf &>/dev/null; echo $?)" -eq 0 ]]; then
       choose_context_interactive
diff --git a/kubens b/kubens
index 3a5dc6f..c246b0f 100755
--- a/kubens
+++ b/kubens
@@ -156,6 +156,10 @@ swap_namespace() {
 }
 
 main() {
+  if ! hash kubectl 2>/dev/null; then
+   echo >&2 "kubectl is not installed"
+   exit 1
+  fi
   if [[ "$#" -eq 0 ]]; then
     if [[ -t 1 && -z ${KUBECTX_IGNORE_FZF:-} && "$(type fzf &>/dev/null; echo $?)" -eq 0 ]]; then
       choose_namespace_interactive