diff --git a/resources/compile.py b/resources/compile.py
index b1f315e2c..780f2c3b3 100755
--- a/resources/compile.py
+++ b/resources/compile.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 
 import os.path
-import subprocess
 from distutils import log
 from distutils.dep_util import newer
+from distutils.spawn import find_executable, spawn, DistutilsExecError
 
 
 def main():
@@ -12,8 +12,17 @@ def main():
     pyfile = os.path.join(topdir, "picard", "resources.py")
     qrcfile = os.path.join(topdir, "resources", "picard.qrc")
     if newer(qrcfile, pyfile):
-        log.info("compiling %s -> %s", qrcfile, pyfile)
-        subprocess.call(["pyrcc4", qrcfile, "-o", pyfile])
+        pyrcc = 'pyrcc4'
+        pyrcc_path = find_executable(pyrcc)
+        if pyrcc_path is None:
+            log.error("%s command not found, cannot build resource file !", pyrcc)
+        else:
+            cmd = [pyrcc_path, qrcfile, "-o", pyfile]
+            try:
+                spawn(cmd, search_path=0)
+            except DistutilsExecError as e:
+                log.error(e)
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     log.set_verbosity(1)