diff --git a/runtime/autoload/dist/vim9.vim b/runtime/autoload/dist/vim9.vim
index 807140d..8fa9380 100644
--- a/runtime/autoload/dist/vim9.vim
+++ b/runtime/autoload/dist/vim9.vim
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@
 # Last Change:	2023 Oct 25
 
 export def IsSafeExecutable(filetype: string, executable: string): bool
+    if empty(exepath(executable))
+      echomsg executable .. " not found in $PATH"
+      return v:false
+    endif
     var cwd = getcwd()
     return get(g:, filetype .. '_exec', get(g:, 'plugin_exec', 0))
       && (fnamemodify(exepath(executable), ':p:h') !=# cwd