diff --git a/kittens/panel/main.py b/kittens/panel/main.py
index 02578c057..0421f4535 100644
--- a/kittens/panel/main.py
+++ b/kittens/panel/main.py
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
 # vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 # License: GPL v3 Copyright: 2018, Kovid Goyal <kovid at kovidgoyal.net>
 
+import shutil
 import subprocess
 import sys
 
-from kitty.constants import is_macos, is_wayland
 from kitty.cli import parse_args
-
+from kitty.constants import is_macos, is_wayland
 
 OPTIONS = r'''
 --lines
@@ -123,7 +123,8 @@ def main(sys_args):
     global args
     if is_macos or is_wayland:
         raise SystemExit('Currently the panel kitten is supported only on X11 desktops')
-    call_xprop('-version', silent=True)  # ensure xprop is available
+    if not shutil.which('xprop'):
+        raise SystemExit('The xprop program is required for the panel kitten')
     args, items = parse_panel_args(sys_args[1:])
     if not items:
         raise SystemExit('You must specify the program to run')