diff --git commands/pm/package_handler/wget.inc commands/pm/package_handler/wget.inc
index 2b95ff5..605eff5 100644
--- commands/pm/package_handler/wget.inc
+++ commands/pm/package_handler/wget.inc
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ function package_handler_validate() {
   drush_set_context('DRUSH_DEBUG', FALSE);
   $success = drush_shell_exec('wget --version');
   if (!$success) {
-    $success = drush_shell_exec('curl --version');
+    $success = drush_shell_exec('which curl');
   }
   drush_set_context('DRUSH_DEBUG', $debug);
   if (!$success) {