diff --git a/docs/changelog.md b/docs/changelog.md
index fc0d618b..8169869c 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.md
+++ b/docs/changelog.md
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ Requires libvips v8.6.1.
   [#1290](https://github.com/lovell/sharp/pull/1290)
   [@sylvaindumont](https://github.com/sylvaindumont)
 
+* Ensure vendor platform mismatch throws error at install time.
+  [#1303](https://github.com/lovell/sharp/issues/1303)
+
 #### v0.20.5 - 27<sup>th</sup> June 2018
 
 * Expose libjpeg optimize_coding flag.
diff --git a/lib/libvips.js b/lib/libvips.js
index d8ddbd57..53599c95 100644
--- a/lib/libvips.js
+++ b/lib/libvips.js
@@ -23,14 +23,17 @@ const globalLibvipsVersion = function () {
 
 const hasVendoredLibvips = function () {
   const currentPlatformId = platform();
+  let vendorPlatformId;
   try {
-    const vendorPlatformId = require(path.join(__dirname, '..', 'vendor', 'platform.json'));
+    vendorPlatformId = require(path.join(__dirname, '..', 'vendor', 'platform.json'));
+  } catch (err) {}
+  if (vendorPlatformId) {
     if (currentPlatformId === vendorPlatformId) {
       return true;
     } else {
       throw new Error(`'${vendorPlatformId}' binaries cannot be used on the '${currentPlatformId}' platform. Please remove the 'node_modules/sharp/vendor' directory and run 'npm install'.`);
     }
-  } catch (err) {}
+  }
   return false;
 };