diff --git a/SConstruct b/SConstruct
index a134a29..239afb5 100644
--- a/SConstruct
+++ b/SConstruct
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ BUILD_CMDS = False
 
 import os
 import os.path
+import SCons.Errors
 
 
 def which(program):
@@ -69,30 +70,20 @@ def get_bool_argument(arg):
     return True
 
 
-def set_compiler(env, var, user_compiler, compilers, compiler_string=None):
-    if not compiler_string:
-        compiler_string = 'compiler'
-    if user_compiler:
-        if which(user_compiler):
-            env[var] = user_compiler
-        else:
-            raise SCons.Errors.UserError('The given {} does not exist. '
-                                         ':-('.format(compiler_string))
-    else:
-        for c in compilers:
-            if which(c):
-                env[var] = c
-                break
-        else:
-            raise SCons.Errors.UserError(("Couldn't find a viable {}. "
-                                          "Have you installed one?").format(
-                                              compiler_string))
+def set_toolchain_binary(env, var, user_binary, binaries=()):
+    if user_binary and which(user_binary):
+        env[var] = user_binary
+        return
+    for c in binaries:
+        if which(c):
+            env[var] = c
+            break
 
 common_env = Environment()
-set_compiler(common_env, 'CC', CC, ('clang', 'gcc'), 'C compiler')
-set_compiler(common_env, 'CXX', CXX, ('clang++', 'g++'), 'C++ compiler')
-set_compiler(common_env, 'AS', AS, ('gas'), 'assembler')
-set_compiler(common_env, 'LINK', LINK, ('ld'), 'linker')
+set_toolchain_binary(common_env, 'CC', CC, ('clang', 'gcc'))
+set_toolchain_binary(common_env, 'CXX', CXX, ('clang++', 'g++'))
+set_toolchain_binary(common_env, 'AS', AS)
+set_toolchain_binary(common_env, 'LINK', LINK)
 common_env.Append(CFLAGS='{} -std=c99'.format(CFLAGS))
 common_env.Append(CXXFLAGS='{} -std=c++11'.format(CFLAGS))