diff --git a/openup b/openup
index 2a44175..9541251 100755
--- a/openup
+++ b/openup
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
 
 # TODO
 # https://stable.mtier.org/vuxml/53.xml
-# check for pkg.conf installpath and/or PKG_PATH
 # check for installed binpatches from a previous release
 # extend usage() with doc from web; complete openup doc in usage()
 
@@ -36,6 +35,11 @@ usage() {
 	exit 1
 }
 
+error() {
+	echo "!!! ${@}"
+	exit 1
+}
+
 if [ "$(id -u)" -ne 0 ]; then
 	echo "need root privileges to run this script"
 	usage
@@ -46,8 +50,13 @@ set -A REL -- $(sysctl -n kern.version | sed 's/^OpenBSD \([0-9]\.[0-9]\)\([^ ]*
 REL_INT="$(echo ${REL[0]} | tr -d '.')"
 
 if [ "${REL[1]}" == -!(stable) -o "${REL_INT}" -lt "${OPENUP_MINREL}" ]; then
-	echo "!!! ${REL[0]}${REL[1]} is not a supported release"
-	exit 1
+	error "${REL[0]}${REL[1]} is not a supported release"
+fi
+
+if ! grep -q installpath /etc/pkg.conf 2>/dev/null; then
+	if [ -z "${PKG_PATH}" ]; then
+		error "No package repository available (pkg.conf(5) and/or PKG_PATH)"
+	fi
 fi
 
 OPENUP_VERSION=2