diff --git xinit-clean/startx.in xinit-workdir/startx.in
index 9b224af..6c69eab 100644
--- xinit-clean/startx.in
+++ xinit-workdir/startx.in
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ if [ "$enable_xauth" = 1 ] ; then
     hostname="$(uname -n)"
 
     authdisplay=${display:-:0}
-    if [ -n "$has_cookie_maker" ] && [ -n "$mk_cookie" ] ; then
+    if [ -n "$has_cookie_maker" ] && [ -n "$mk_cookie" ] && command -v "$mk_cookie" >/dev/null 2>&1 ; then
         mcookie=$($mk_cookie)
     else
         if [ -r /dev/urandom ]; then