diff --git a/usr/local/jilits/borgmatic-wrapper.sh b/usr/local/jilits/borgmatic-wrapper.sh
index 13f16a6..e378adc 100755
--- a/usr/local/jilits/borgmatic-wrapper.sh
+++ b/usr/local/jilits/borgmatic-wrapper.sh
@@ -120,10 +120,14 @@ if ! is_int "$max_minutes_since_last_backup"; then
     echxit "ERROR: Invalid or unset value for argument -b: '$max_minutes_since_last_backup'" 2
 fi
 
+for bin in jq nc; do
+    if ! command -v "$bin" >/dev/null; then
+        echxit "ERROR: '$bin' not installed" 3
+    fi
+done
+
 if ! im_root; then
     echxit "ERROR: This script must be run as root" 1
-elif ! command -v jq >/dev/null; then
-    echxit "ERROR: jq not installed" 3
 elif pgrep -f "$borg" >/dev/null; then
     echxit "ERROR: Borg seems to be active already" 11
 elif [ -n "$remote_host_port" ]; then