diff --git a/scripts/download_release.sh b/scripts/download_release.sh
index 1f091ec..5843f07 100755
--- a/scripts/download_release.sh
+++ b/scripts/download_release.sh
@@ -66,7 +66,11 @@ main() {
   version="$(json_values 'tag_name' < $resp)";
   echo "version=$version"
   echo "name=$name"
-
+  if [ -z "${name:-}" ]; then
+    echo "unfortunately, there's no prebuilt release for $fmt and $arch" >&2;
+    echo 'try `go get github.com/skalt/git-cc` to compile it yourself.' >&2;
+    exit 1;
+  fi
   curl -sLO "$(dl_url "$version" "$name")"
   check_sha256
 }