diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index 35be84a..b6489ae 100755
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -6,9 +6,14 @@
 # - python3-virtualenv (needed for ansible)
 
 set -o errexit
-set -o xtrace
 set -o nounset
 
+os_release_file=/etc/os-release
+if [[ ! -e "${os_release_file}" ]] ; then
+    2>&1 printf "Could not find ${os_release_file}, exiting"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
 source /etc/os-release
 
 _SCRIPT_DIR="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" >/dev/null 2>&1 && pwd )"