diff --git a/system/hardware/tici/esim.py b/system/hardware/tici/esim.py
index dca4445f97..1c37454f5a 100755
--- a/system/hardware/tici/esim.py
+++ b/system/hardware/tici/esim.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import json
 import os
+import shutil
 import subprocess
 import time
 
@@ -21,6 +22,9 @@ class LPA:
 
     self.timeout_sec = 45
 
+    if shutil.which('lpac') is None:
+      raise LPAError('lpac not found, must be installed!')
+
   def list_profiles(self) -> list[dict[str, str]]:
     msgs = self._invoke('profile', 'list')
     self._validate_successful(msgs)