diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 29a002fa391..1e15b7ae9ce 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -342,6 +342,8 @@ class PyBuildExt(build_ext):
     def add_multiarch_paths(self):
         # Debian/Ubuntu multiarch support.
         # https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MultiarchSpec
+        if not find_executable('dpkg-architecture'):
+            return
         tmpfile = os.path.join(self.build_temp, 'multiarch')
         if not os.path.exists(self.build_temp):
             os.makedirs(self.build_temp)