diff --git a/bench/patches/v4/update_node.py b/bench/patches/v4/update_node.py
index e39e72ab..17e358e9 100644
--- a/bench/patches/v4/update_node.py
+++ b/bench/patches/v4/update_node.py
@@ -1,12 +1,24 @@
 import click, subprocess, sys
 from semantic_version import Version
+from distutils.spawn import find_executable
 
 def execute(bench_path):
     expected_node_ver = Version('5.0.0')
+    node_exec = find_executable('node')
+
+    if node_exec:
+        result = subprocess.check_output([node_exec, '-v'])
+    else:
+        click.echo('\nNo node executable was found on your machine.\nPlease install node 5.x before\n'
+        'running "bench update".\nInstallation instructions for CentOS and Ubuntu can be found on \n'
+        'the following link,\n'
+        '"https://www.metachris.com/2015/10/how-to-install-nodejs-5-on-centos-and-ubuntu/"\n\n')
+        sys.exit(1)
 
-    result = subprocess.check_output(['node', '-v'])
     node_ver = Version(result.rstrip('\n').lstrip('v'))
 
     if node_ver < expected_node_ver:
-        click.echo('\nPlease update node version to 5.x before running the "bench update"\n\n')
+        click.echo('\nPlease update node version to 5.x before running "bench update".\n'
+        'Installation instructions for CentOS and Ubuntu can be found on the following link,\n
+        '"https://www.metachris.com/2015/10/how-to-install-nodejs-5-on-centos-and-ubuntu/"\n\n')
         sys.exit(1)