diff --git a/plugins/mpd/mpdstats_ b/plugins/mpd/mpdstats_
index b54edfdc..65f9194f 100755
--- a/plugins/mpd/mpdstats_
+++ b/plugins/mpd/mpdstats_
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@ Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
 
 MPDHOST=${mpd_host:-localhost}
 MPDPORT=${mpd_port:-6600}
-NCBIN=${netcat:-/bin/nc}
+NCBIN=${netcat:-$(which nc)}
+
 
 #
 # FUNCTIONS
@@ -85,8 +86,8 @@ do_autoconf () {
             ;;
     esac
 
-    if [ ! -x $NCBIN ] ; then
-        echo "no ($NCBIN: not found or not executable)"
+    if [ -z "$NCBIN" ] ; then
+        echo "no (missing netcat program ('nc'))"
         exit 1
     fi