diff --git a/x230/external_install_bottom.sh b/x230/external_install_bottom.sh
index b7d018b..6d5509c 100755
--- a/x230/external_install_bottom.sh
+++ b/x230/external_install_bottom.sh
@@ -115,6 +115,8 @@ else
 	exit 1
 fi
 
+hash flashrom || echo -e "${RED}Please install flashrom and run as root${NC}"
+
 TEMP_DIR=`mktemp -d`
 if [ ! "$have_chipname" -gt 0 ] ; then
 	echo "trying to detect the chip..."
@@ -150,6 +152,8 @@ if [ ! "$have_chipname" -gt 0 ] ; then
 	fi
 fi
 
+hash make || echo -e "${RED}Please install make and a C compiler${NC}"
+
 make -C util/ifdtool
 if [ ! -e ${IFDTOOL_PATH} ] ; then
 	echo "ifdtool not found at ${IFDTOOL_PATH}"
diff --git a/x230/external_install_top.sh b/x230/external_install_top.sh
index 2650776..80d69f1 100755
--- a/x230/external_install_top.sh
+++ b/x230/external_install_top.sh
@@ -134,6 +134,8 @@ else
 	exit 1
 fi
 
+hash flashrom || echo -e "${RED}Please install flashrom and run as root${NC}"
+
 TEMP_DIR=`mktemp -d`
 if [ ! "$have_chipname" -gt 0 ] ; then
 	echo "trying to detect the chip..."
diff --git a/x230/x230_before_first_install.sh b/x230/x230_before_first_install.sh
index 0d34681..7890779 100755
--- a/x230/x230_before_first_install.sh
+++ b/x230/x230_before_first_install.sh
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ do
 	shift
 done
 
-hash dmidecode
+hash dmidecode || echo -e "Please install dmidecode and run as root"
 
 LAPTOP=$(dmidecode | grep -i x230 | sort -u)
 if [ -z "$LAPTOP" ] ; then