diff --git a/xCAT-client/bin/mysqlsetup b/xCAT-client/bin/mysqlsetup
index e61857a20..e242ed930 100755
--- a/xCAT-client/bin/mysqlsetup
+++ b/xCAT-client/bin/mysqlsetup
@@ -916,7 +916,13 @@ sub initmysqldb
     }
     else
     {
-        $cmd = "/usr/bin/mysql_install_db --user=mysql";
+        my $sqlcmd = "/usr/bin/mysql_install_db";
+        if (!(-x ($sqlcmd))) {
+            xCAT::MsgUtils->message("E", "$sqlcmd is not available, please install required mysql/mariadb packages");
+            exit(1);
+        }
+
+        $cmd = "$sqlcmd --user=mysql";
     }
     xCAT::Utils->runcmd($cmd, 0);
     if ($::RUNCMD_RC != 0)