diff --git a/tootpaste.sh b/tootpaste.sh
index ea02d5b..4e2d24a 100644
--- a/tootpaste.sh
+++ b/tootpaste.sh
@@ -118,6 +118,14 @@ statuses_remove(){
   $DRY_RUN || $TOOTCTL statuses remove --days "$STATUSES_REMOVE_DAYS"
 }
 
+check_command(){
+  command -v "$1" > /dev/null
+}
+
+for command in $TOOTCTL curl grep awk cut sort; do
+  check_command "$command" || (echo "$command not found, exiting..."; exit 1)
+done
+
 $DO_ACCOUNTS_CULL && accounts_cull
 $DO_MEDIA_REMOVE && media_remove
 $DO_STATUSES_REMOVE && statuses_remove