diff --git a/.githooks/install b/.githooks/install
index a98d897d5..5c084603f 100755
--- a/.githooks/install
+++ b/.githooks/install
@@ -3,6 +3,12 @@
 cd "$(git rev-parse --git-dir)"
 cd hooks
 
-echo "Installing hooks..." 
-ln -s ../../.githooks/pre-commit pre-commit
+echo "Installing hooks..."
+# Install pre-commit hook if dependencies are satisfied
+if ! [ -x "$(command -v git-clang-format)" ]; then
+  echo 'Error: pre-commit hook depends on git-clang-format, but is not installed.' >&2
+  exit 1
+else
+    ln -s ../../.githooks/pre-commit pre-commit
+fi
 echo "Done!"