diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6d9e93d..50002a4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -63,5 +63,5 @@ Creating the Alfred node image is done using [Packer](https://www.packer.io/) in
 
 - bash
 - docker
-- tar
+- ssh
 - zstd
diff --git a/client/main.go b/client/main.go
index 5eaf9a3..1d1f0dd 100644
--- a/client/main.go
+++ b/client/main.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"net"
 	"os"
+	"os/exec"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/fatih/color"
@@ -33,6 +34,12 @@ var alfredCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	SilenceErrors: true,
 
 	PersistentPreRunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (err error) {
+		dependencies := []string{"bash", "docker", "ssh", "zstd"}
+		command := exec.Command("/bin/which", dependencies...)
+		if err := command.Run(); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("missing mandatory dependencies (%s): %w", strings.Join(dependencies, ", "), err)
+		}
+
 		defer func() {
 			if err != nil {
 				err = fmt.Errorf("failed to connect to gRPC client: %w", err)