diff --git a/anki/sync.py b/anki/sync.py
index 711f1bd3c..7383a7326 100644
--- a/anki/sync.py
+++ b/anki/sync.py
@@ -47,7 +47,10 @@ def httpCon():
                 os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(sys.argv[0])),
                 "../Resources/ankiweb.certs")
         else:
-            assert 0, "Your distro has not packaged Anki correctly."
+            certs = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(
+                os.path.dirname(certs), "..", "ankiweb.certs"))
+            if not os.path.exists(certs):
+                assert 0, "Your distro has not packaged Anki correctly."
     return httplib2.Http(
         timeout=HTTP_TIMEOUT, ca_certs=certs,
         proxy_info=HTTP_PROXY,