diff --git a/kittens/diff/patch.py b/kittens/diff/patch.py
index ebcd9b31d..5acdc2ffe 100644
--- a/kittens/diff/patch.py
+++ b/kittens/diff/patch.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ worker_processes = []
 
 
 def find_differ():
-    if shutil.which('git'):
+    if shutil.which('git') and subprocess.Popen(['git', '--help']).wait() == 0:
         return GIT_DIFF
     if shutil.which('diff'):
         return DIFF_DIFF