diff --git a/src/plugins/gramplet/EditExifMetadata.py b/src/plugins/gramplet/EditExifMetadata.py
index 5849dac78..d0170e8f6 100644
--- a/src/plugins/gramplet/EditExifMetadata.py
+++ b/src/plugins/gramplet/EditExifMetadata.py
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ from PlaceUtils import conv_lat_lon
 
 from gen.db import DbTxn
 
+# validate that pyexiv2 is installed and its version...
 import pyexiv2
 
 # v0.1 has a different API to v0.2 and above
@@ -78,12 +79,15 @@ else:
     # version_info attribute does not exist prior to v0.2.0
     OLD_API = True
 
-# define the Exiv2 command
+# validate the exiv2 is installed and its executable
 system_platform = os.sys.platform
 if system_platform == "win32":
     EXIV2_FOUND = "exiv2.exe" if Utils.search_for("exiv2.exe") else False
 else:
     EXIV2_FOUND = "exiv2" if Utils.search_for("exiv2") else False
+if not EXIV2_FOUND:
+    msg = 'You must have exiv2 and its development file installed.'
+    raise SystemExit(msg)
 
 #------------------------------------------------
 # support functions