diff --git a/config/release/create_installstick b/config/release/create_installstick
index 56406a4720..b344a79db9 100644
--- a/config/release/create_installstick
+++ b/config/release/create_installstick
@@ -56,30 +56,84 @@ echo "# Please read the instructions and use very carefully.. #"
 echo "#                                                       #"
 echo "#########################################################"
 
-md5sumFailed()
-{
-  clear
-  echo "#########################################################"
-  echo "#                                                       #"
-  echo "# OpenELEC.tv failed md5 check - Installation will quit #"
-  echo "#                                                       #"
-  echo "#      Your original download was probably corrupt.     #"
-  echo "#   Please visit www.openelec.tv and get another copy   #"
-  echo "#                                                       #"
-  echo "#########################################################"
-  exit 1
-}
+# check for some required tools
+
+  # this is needed to create a bootloader
+  which syslinux > /dev/null
+  if [ "$?" = "1" ]; then
+    clear
+    echo "#########################################################"
+    echo "#                                                       #"
+    echo "# OpenELEC.tv missing tool - Installation will quit     #"
+    echo "#                                                       #"
+    echo "#      We can't find the required tool \"syslinux\"     #"
+    echo "#      on your system.                                  #"
+    echo "#      Please install it via your package manager.      #"
+    echo "#                                                       #"
+    echo "#########################################################"
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+  # this is needed by syslinux
+  which mcopy > /dev/null
+    if [ "$?" = "1" ]; then
+    clear
+    echo "#########################################################"
+    echo "#                                                       #"
+    echo "# OpenELEC.tv missing tool - Installation will quit     #"
+    echo "#                                                       #"
+    echo "#      We can't find the required tool \"mcopy\"        #"
+    echo "#      on your system.                                  #"
+    echo "#      Please install it via your package manager.      #"
+    echo "#      NOTE: Some distributions call this package       #"
+    echo "#      \"mtools\".                                      #"
+    echo "#                                                       #"
+    echo "#########################################################"
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+  # this is needed to partion the stick
+  which parted > /dev/null
+  if [ "$?" = "1" ]; then
+    clear
+    echo "#########################################################"
+    echo "#                                                       #"
+    echo "# OpenELEC.tv missing tool - Installation will quit     #"
+    echo "#                                                       #"
+    echo "#      We can't find the required tool \"parted\"       #"
+    echo "#      on your system.                                  #"
+    echo "#      Please install it via your package manager.      #"
+    echo "#                                                       #"
+    echo "#########################################################"
+    exit 1
+  fi
 
 
 # check MD5 sums
   echo "checking MD5 sum..."
+
+  md5sumFailed()
+  {
+    clear
+    echo "#########################################################"
+    echo "#                                                       #"
+    echo "# OpenELEC.tv failed md5 check - Installation will quit #"
+    echo "#                                                       #"
+    echo "#      Your original download was probably corrupt.     #"
+    echo "#   Please visit www.openelec.tv and get another copy   #"
+    echo "#                                                       #"
+    echo "#########################################################"
+    exit 1
+  }
+
   md5sum -c target/KERNEL.md5
   if [ "$?" = "1" ]; then
-	md5sumFailed
+    md5sumFailed
   fi
+
   md5sum -c target/SYSTEM.md5
   if [ "$?" = "1" ]; then
-	md5sumFailed
+    md5sumFailed
   fi
 
 # (TODO) umount anything