diff --git a/build/common.sh b/build/common.sh
index ab34e43aac0..791513358b6 100755
--- a/build/common.sh
+++ b/build/common.sh
@@ -147,6 +147,7 @@ kube::build::get_docker_wrapped_binaries() {
 function kube::build::verify_prereqs() {
   kube::log::status "Verifying Prerequisites...."
   kube::build::ensure_tar || return 1
+  kube::build::ensure_rsync || return 1
   kube::build::ensure_docker_in_path || return 1
   if kube::build::is_osx; then
       kube::build::docker_available_on_osx || return 1
@@ -235,6 +236,13 @@ function kube::build::is_gnu_sed() {
   [[ $(sed --version 2>&1) == *GNU* ]]
 }
 
+function kube::build::ensure_rsync() {
+  if [[ -z "$(which rsync)" ]]; then
+    kube::log::error "Can't find 'rsync' in PATH, please fix and retry."
+    return 1
+  fi
+}
+
 function kube::build::update_dockerfile() {
   if kube::build::is_gnu_sed; then
     sed_opts=(-i)