diff --git a/git-cvs2git.sh b/git-cvs2git.sh
index 2862a0e..91ed59c 100755
--- a/git-cvs2git.sh
+++ b/git-cvs2git.sh
@@ -144,6 +144,16 @@ else
     exit 1
 fi
 
+
+# Check that lua is installed (needed for change-log)
+if command -v lua -V > /dev/null; then
+    if [ $DEBUG ] ; then echo "************lua is installed" ; fi
+else
+    echo "ERROR********************** lua is not installed (try EPEL)**************"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+
 # and check for the special scripts - changelog and BogusDateBot.sh - I think these are available in the
 # mockbuild rpm, but beware Bug:12340 - changelog needs an edit to work!
 if type -P change-log >/dev/null 2>&1; then