diff --git a/share/install_gems/install_gems b/share/install_gems/install_gems
index f153b5cd61..8320bb7815 100755
--- a/share/install_gems/install_gems
+++ b/share/install_gems/install_gems
@@ -105,9 +105,17 @@ def get_gems(packages)
 end
 
 def detect_distro
-    lsb_info=`lsb_release -a`
-    if $?!=0 && false
-        STDERR.puts("lsb_release command not found")
+    begin
+        lsb_info=`lsb_release -a`
+    rescue
+    end
+
+    if $?.exitstatus!=0
+        STDERR.puts(<<-EOT.unindent(12))
+            lsb_release command not found. If you are using a RedHat based
+            distribution install redhat-lsb
+
+EOT
         return nil
     end