diff --git a/site_scons/sgmldoc.py b/site_scons/sgmldoc.py
index 3d4f034..4bcf710 100644
--- a/site_scons/sgmldoc.py
+++ b/site_scons/sgmldoc.py
@@ -6,12 +6,18 @@
 #
 
 from SCons.Script import ARGUMENTS,Touch,Delete
+import os
 
 def checkForSGMLFMT(check):
     """Returns True if we have working sgmlfmt executable for building documentation."""
     check.Message("Checking for working sgmlfmt... ")
     Touch('empty')
+    Delete('empty.html')
     rc,out=check.TryAction("sgmlfmt -d docbook -f html empty")
+    if os.path.isfile('empty.html'):
+        rc = 0
+    else:
+        rc = 127
     Delete(['empty','empty.html'])
     if rc == 0:
         check.Result(True)