diff --git a/src/pocketmine/PocketMine.php b/src/pocketmine/PocketMine.php
index 5503c9c22..8644af5e6 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/PocketMine.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/PocketMine.php
@@ -84,6 +84,12 @@ namespace pocketmine {
 	 * Enjoy it as much as I did writing it. I don't want to do it again.
 	 */
 
+	if(!extension_loaded("phar")){
+		echo "[CRITICAL] Unable to find the Phar extension." . PHP_EOL;
+		echo "[CRITICAL] Please use the installer provided on the homepage." . PHP_EOL;
+		exit(1);
+	}
+
 	if(\Phar::running(true) !== ""){
 		@define('pocketmine\PATH', \Phar::running(true) . "/");
 	}else{