diff --git a/build.psm1 b/build.psm1
index e060ee1437e..e48b5e8d59f 100644
--- a/build.psm1
+++ b/build.psm1
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ function Start-BuildNativeWindowsBinaries {
         $vcvarsallbatPath = (Get-ChildItem $vcPath -Filter vcvarsall.bat -Recurse -File | Select-Object -First 1).FullName
     }
 
-    if ((Test-Path -Path $vcvarsallbatPath) -eq $false) {
+    if ([string]::IsNullOrEmpty($vcvarsallbatPath) -or (Test-Path -Path $vcvarsallbatPath) -eq $false) {
         throw "Could not find Visual Studio vcvarsall.bat at $vcvarsallbatPath. Please ensure the optional feature 'Common Tools for Visual C++' is installed."
     }