diff --git a/wscript b/wscript
index 82119fa..b812d76 100644
--- a/wscript
+++ b/wscript
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # -*- python -*-
 
 import os
+import subprocess
 
 top = '.'
 out = 'build_directory'
@@ -33,10 +34,19 @@ def configure(ctx):
                 atleast_version=cairo_version_required,
                 args='--cflags --libs')
 
-  ctx.check_cfg(package='xpyb',
-                atleast_version=xpyb_version_required,
-                args='--cflags --libs',
-                mandatory=False)
+  try:
+    p = subprocess.Popen([ctx.env['PYTHON'][0], '-c', 'import xcb'], stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+    p.wait()
+    p.stdout.close()
+    p.stderr.close()
+  except OSError:
+    pass
+  else:
+    if p.returncode == 0:
+      ctx.check_cfg(package='xpyb',
+                    atleast_version=xpyb_version_required,
+                    args='--cflags --libs',
+                    mandatory=False)
 
   # add gcc options
   if env['CC_NAME'] == 'gcc':