diff --git a/extra/beep/beep.py b/extra/beep/beep.py
index b46036b2a..cd8ef9be5 100644
--- a/extra/beep/beep.py
+++ b/extra/beep/beep.py
@@ -45,6 +45,10 @@ def _win_wav_play(filename):
     winsound.PlaySound(filename, winsound.SND_FILENAME)
 
 def _linux_wav_play(filename):
+    for _ in ("aplay", "paplay", "play"):
+        if not os.system("%s '%s' 2>/dev/null" % (_, filename)):
+            return
+
     import ctypes
 
     PA_STREAM_PLAYBACK = 1