diff --git a/toolchain-gcc.cmake b/toolchain-gcc.cmake
index a7cc3bc82aa..1462e47b354 100644
--- a/toolchain-gcc.cmake
+++ b/toolchain-gcc.cmake
@@ -1,4 +1,11 @@
 
+macro(require_program varname execname)
+    find_program(${varname} ${execname})
+    if(NOT ${varname})
+        message(FATAL_ERROR "${execname} not found")
+    endif()
+endmacro()
+
 # pass variables necessary for the toolchain (needed for try_compile)
 set(CMAKE_TRY_COMPILE_PLATFORM_VARIABLES ARCH)
 
@@ -28,15 +35,15 @@ set(CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME Windows)
 set(CMAKE_SYSTEM_PROCESSOR i686)
 
 # Which tools to use
-set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER ${MINGW_TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}gcc${MINGW_TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX} CACHE FILEPATH "The C Compiler")
-set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER ${MINGW_TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}g++${MINGW_TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX} CACHE FILEPATH "The C++ Compiler")
-set(CMAKE_ASM_COMPILER ${MINGW_TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}gcc${MINGW_TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX} CACHE FILEPATH "The ASM Compiler")
+require_program(CMAKE_C_COMPILER ${MINGW_TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}gcc${MINGW_TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX})
+require_program(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER ${MINGW_TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}g++${MINGW_TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX})
+require_program(CMAKE_ASM_COMPILER ${MINGW_TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}gcc${MINGW_TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX})
 set(CMAKE_ASM_COMPILER_ID "GNU")
-set(CMAKE_MC_COMPILER ${MINGW_TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}windmc)
-set(CMAKE_RC_COMPILER ${MINGW_TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}windres)
-set(CMAKE_DLLTOOL ${MINGW_TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}dlltool)
+require_program(CMAKE_MC_COMPILER ${MINGW_TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}windmc)
+require_program(CMAKE_RC_COMPILER ${MINGW_TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}windres)
+require_program(CMAKE_DLLTOOL ${MINGW_TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}dlltool)
 #set(CMAKE_AR ${MINGW_TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}gcc-ar${MINGW_TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX})
-set(CMAKE_OBJCOPY ${MINGW_TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}objcopy)
+require_program(CMAKE_OBJCOPY ${MINGW_TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}objcopy)
 
 set(CMAKE_C_CREATE_STATIC_LIBRARY "<CMAKE_AR> crT <TARGET> <LINK_FLAGS> <OBJECTS>")
 set(CMAKE_CXX_CREATE_STATIC_LIBRARY ${CMAKE_C_CREATE_STATIC_LIBRARY})