diff --git a/debian/extra/initramfs/post-update.d/systemd-boot b/debian/extra/initramfs/post-update.d/systemd-boot
index 709f21aea..1cee51c5e 100755
--- a/debian/extra/initramfs/post-update.d/systemd-boot
+++ b/debian/extra/initramfs/post-update.d/systemd-boot
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 set -eu
 
+test -x /usr/bin/bootctl || exit 0
+
 bootctl is-installed --quiet || exit 0
 
 echo "Updating kernel version $1 in systemd-boot..."
diff --git a/debian/extra/kernel/postinst.d/systemd-boot b/debian/extra/kernel/postinst.d/systemd-boot
index 9ed7a67d1..890114064 100755
--- a/debian/extra/kernel/postinst.d/systemd-boot
+++ b/debian/extra/kernel/postinst.d/systemd-boot
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 set -e
 
+test -x /usr/bin/bootctl || exit 0
+
 bootctl is-installed --quiet || exit 0
 
 echo "Installing kernel version $1 in systemd-boot..."
diff --git a/debian/extra/kernel/postrm.d/systemd-boot b/debian/extra/kernel/postrm.d/systemd-boot
index 829298745..4db5e51dc 100755
--- a/debian/extra/kernel/postrm.d/systemd-boot
+++ b/debian/extra/kernel/postrm.d/systemd-boot
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 set -e
 
+test -x /usr/bin/bootctl || exit 0
+
 bootctl is-installed --quiet || exit 0
 
 echo "Removing kernel version $1 from systemd-boot..."