diff --git a/scripts/fastani_in_parallel.sh b/scripts/fastani_in_parallel.sh
index ffa4669..b7a95d2 100755
--- a/scripts/fastani_in_parallel.sh
+++ b/scripts/fastani_in_parallel.sh
@@ -14,6 +14,15 @@
 # more details. You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with
 # Bacsort. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
+# Check for fastANI
+if command -v fastANI >/dev/null 2>&1 ; then
+    echo "fastANI found"
+    echo "version: $(fastANI -v)"
+else
+    echo "Error: fastANI not found - please install fastANI and try again"
+    exit
+fi
+
 mkdir -p tree
 
 printf "\n"
diff --git a/scripts/fastani_with_slurm.sh b/scripts/fastani_with_slurm.sh
index c3b0aed..fa35a6b 100755
--- a/scripts/fastani_with_slurm.sh
+++ b/scripts/fastani_with_slurm.sh
@@ -14,6 +14,15 @@
 # more details. You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with
 # Bacsort. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
+# Check for fastANI
+if command -v fastANI >/dev/null 2>&1 ; then
+    echo "fastANI found"
+    echo "version: $(fastANI -v)"
+else
+    echo "Error: fastANI not found - please install fastANI and try again"
+    exit
+fi
+
 group_count=32
 
 mkdir -p tree