diff --git a/eclass/python-utils-r1.eclass b/eclass/python-utils-r1.eclass
index 87cb662c64fde..9c8b6a14d2ac1 100644
--- a/eclass/python-utils-r1.eclass
+++ b/eclass/python-utils-r1.eclass
@@ -608,6 +608,7 @@ python_optimize() {
 
 	local PYTHON=${PYTHON}
 	[[ ${PYTHON} ]] || _python_export PYTHON
+	[[ -x ${PYTHON} ]] || die "PYTHON (${PYTHON}) is not executable"
 
 	# default to sys.path
 	if [[ ${#} -eq 0 ]]; then