diff --git a/pinentry_others.go b/pinentry_others.go
index 4a60e38..a0380f8 100644
--- a/pinentry_others.go
+++ b/pinentry_others.go
@@ -2,12 +2,18 @@
 
 package pinentry
 
-import "github.com/gopasspw/pinentry/gpgconf"
+import (
+	"github.com/gopasspw/pinentry/gpgconf"
+	"os/exec"
+)
 
 // GetBinary returns the binary name
 func GetBinary() string {
 	if p, err := gpgconf.Path("pinentry"); err == nil && p != "" {
-		return p
+		// check, whether the returned path acutally exists
+		if _, err := exec.LookPath(p); err == nil {
+			return p
+		}
 	}
 	return "pinentry"
 }