1 files changed, 12 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/release.py b/release.py
index 54a36175..9a1f0f3c 100644
--- a/release.py
+++ b/release.py
@@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ def bump_version(filename):
 def do_release():
 	assert all(map(os.path.exists, files_with_versions)), (
 		"Expected file(s) missing")
+
+	assert has_sphinx(), "You must have Sphinx installed to release"
+
 	res = raw_input('Have you read through the SCM changelog and '
 		'confirmed the changelog is current for releasing {VERSION}? '
 		.format(**globals()))
@@ -131,6 +134,15 @@ def do_release():
 
 	add_milestone_and_version()
 
+def has_sphinx():
+	try:
+		devnull = open(os.path.devnull, 'wb')
+		subprocess.Popen(['sphinx-build', '--version'], stdout=devnull,
+			stderr=subprocess.STDOUT).wait()
+	except Exception:
+		return False
+	return True
+
 def build_docs():
 	if not os.path.isdir('docs'):
 		return