diff --git a/pandora_client/client.py b/pandora_client/client.py
index 7618393..63c0e74 100644
--- a/pandora_client/client.py
+++ b/pandora_client/client.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ class DistributedClient:
     def __init__(self, url, name):
         self.url = url
         self.name = name
+        self.supported_formats = extract.supported_formats()
 
     def ping(self, oshash):
         try:
@@ -44,6 +45,12 @@ class DistributedClient:
 
     def encode(self, oshash, cmd, output):
         cmd[0] = extract.command('ffmpeg')
+        if 'webm' in cmd and not self.supported_formats['webm']:
+            print "ffmpeg is compiled without WebM support"
+            return
+        elif cmd[-1].endswith('.mp4') and not self.supported_formats['webm']:
+            print "ffmpeg is compiled without H.264 support"
+            return
         try:
             p = subprocess.Popen(cmd)
             r = None
@@ -71,7 +78,7 @@ class DistributedClient:
             self.status(oshash, 'failed')
         if os.path.exists(output):
             os.unlink(output)
-    
+
     def run(self):
         new = True
         while True: