diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 9cbe1fa..451e74f 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
   [ Axel Beckert ]
   * Fix some rendering and consistency issues in find-dbgsym-packages(1).
   * Declare compliance with Debian Policy 4.5.1. (No changes needed.)
+  * debmany: Bail out properly if neither whiptail nor dialog is
+    installed. Thanks to Jakub Wilk for the bug report! (Closes: #969024)
 
   [ Jakub Wilk ]
   * debmany: use apt-helper for package downloads. (Closes: #969025)
diff --git a/debmany/debmany b/debmany/debmany
index 6c08197..502f6ff 100755
--- a/debmany/debmany
+++ b/debmany/debmany
@@ -152,7 +152,15 @@
   fi
 else
   test -z "$package" && usage "You must specify one package or a Debian package file."
-  test -x $whiptail && cmd=$whiptail || cmd=$dialog
+  if [ -x $whiptail ]; then
+      cmd=$whiptail
+  elif [ -x $dialog ]; then
+      cmd=$dialog
+  else
+      echo "$0: Either whiptail or dialog is required." 1>&2
+      echo "Please install at least one of them." 1>&2
+      exit 2
+  fi
 
   # determine the size of your terminal
   read y x <<EOF