diff --git a/kvmstats b/kvmstats
index 9e9166b..fed124e 100755
--- a/kvmstats
+++ b/kvmstats
@@ -2,6 +2,11 @@
 
 set -e
 
+error () {
+    echo "$0": "$@" >&2
+    exit 1
+}
+
 usage () {
     echo 'usage: kvmstats [-a] [-u k|m|g]' >&2
     exit 1
@@ -9,11 +14,7 @@ usage () {
 
 for DEP in bc virsh
 do
-    if [ -z "$(which $DEP)" ]
-    then
-        echo "kvmstats: $DEP not found in \$PATH" >&2
-        exit 1
-    fi
+    command -v $DEP > /dev/null || error $DEP command not found
 done
 
 POW=$(echo 1024 ^ 3 | bc)