diff --git a/patoolib/programs/rpm2cpio.py b/patoolib/programs/rpm2cpio.py
index 6944b99..e66482d 100644
--- a/patoolib/programs/rpm2cpio.py
+++ b/patoolib/programs/rpm2cpio.py
@@ -19,7 +19,11 @@ from patoolib import util
 
 def extract_rpm (archive, encoding, cmd, **kwargs):
     """Extract a DEB archive."""
-    cmdlist = [cmd, os.path.abspath(archive), "|", 'cpio', '--extract',
+    # also check cpio
+    cpio = util.find_program("cpio")
+    if not cpio:
+        raise util.PatoolError("cpio(1) is required for rpm2cpio extraction; please install it")
+    cmdlist = [cmd, os.path.abspath(archive), "|", cpio, '--extract',
         '--make-directories', '--preserve-modification-time',
         '--no-absolute-filenames', '--force-local', '--nonmatching',
         '"*\.\.*"']