diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/my/functions.lua b/.config/nvim/lua/my/functions.lua
index be35e62..5bdd88a 100644
--- a/.config/nvim/lua/my/functions.lua
+++ b/.config/nvim/lua/my/functions.lua
@@ -109,7 +109,8 @@ end
 
 -- return true if 'Symbols Nerd Font' is known to fontconfig
 function M.nerdfont_installed()
-    if os.execute([[fc-list -q 'Symbols Nerd Font']]) == 0 then
+    if vim.fn.executable('fc-list') == 1 and
+        os.execute([[fc-list -q 'Symbols Nerd Font']]) == 0 then
         return true
     end
     return false