diff --git a/bin/symbols-check.py b/bin/symbols-check.py
index 876807c0859..841860c65ad 100644
--- a/bin/symbols-check.py
+++ b/bin/symbols-check.py
@@ -141,19 +141,15 @@ def main():
                         help='do not process this symbol')
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
-    try:
-        if platform.system() == 'Windows':
-            if not args.dumpbin:
-                parser.error('--dumpbin is mandatory')
-            lib_symbols = get_symbols_dumpbin(args.dumpbin, args.lib)
-        else:
-            if not args.nm:
-                parser.error('--nm is mandatory')
-            lib_symbols = get_symbols_nm(args.nm, args.lib)
-    except:
-        # We can't run this test, but we haven't technically failed it either
-        # Return the GNU "skip" error code
-        exit(77)
+    if platform.system() == 'Windows':
+        if not args.dumpbin:
+            parser.error('--dumpbin is mandatory')
+        lib_symbols = get_symbols_dumpbin(args.dumpbin, args.lib)
+    else:
+        if not args.nm:
+            parser.error('--nm is mandatory')
+        lib_symbols = get_symbols_nm(args.nm, args.lib)
+
     mandatory_symbols = []
     optional_symbols = []
     with open(args.symbols_file) as symbols_file:
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 81da6a697b3..87f0be82049 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -2233,7 +2233,7 @@ if host_machine.system() == 'windows'
   endif
 else
   prog_nm = find_program('nm')
-  with_symbols_check = with_tests
+  with_symbols_check = prog_nm.found() and with_tests
   symbols_check_args = ['--nm', prog_nm.full_path()]
 endif