diff --git a/lorax.spec b/lorax.spec
index 058bec16a..e282ca498 100644
--- a/lorax.spec
+++ b/lorax.spec
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ Requires:       gzip
 Requires:       isomd5sum
 Requires:       module-init-tools
 Requires:       parted
-Requires:       squashfs-tools >= 4.2
+Recommends:     squashfs-tools >= 4.2
 Requires:       erofs-utils >= 1.8.2
 Requires:       util-linux
 Requires:       xz-lzma-compat
diff --git a/src/pylorax/cmdline/livemedia.py b/src/pylorax/cmdline/livemedia.py
index 747ff6e32..328d9881f 100755
--- a/src/pylorax/cmdline/livemedia.py
+++ b/src/pylorax/cmdline/livemedia.py
@@ -158,6 +158,19 @@ def main():
         list(log.error(e) for e in errors)
         sys.exit(1)
 
+    # When making an iso check for required mksquashfs or mkfs.erofs tools
+    # If mksquashfs is missing fall back to erofs
+    if opts.make_iso:
+        if opts.rootfs_type.startswith("squashfs"):
+            if not shutil.which("mksquashfs"):
+                log.warning("mksquashfs not installed, falling back to --rootfs-type=erofs")
+                opts.rootfs_type = "erofs"
+
+        if opts.rootfs_type.startswith("erofs"):
+            if not shutil.which("mkfs.erofs"):
+                log.error("mkfs.erofs not installed, exiting")
+                sys.exit(1)
+
     if not os.path.exists(opts.result_dir):
         os.makedirs(opts.result_dir)
 
diff --git a/src/pylorax/cmdline/lorax.py b/src/pylorax/cmdline/lorax.py
index 3ee7a29b3..d6163c80b 100755
--- a/src/pylorax/cmdline/lorax.py
+++ b/src/pylorax/cmdline/lorax.py
@@ -112,6 +112,18 @@ def main():
 
     log_selinux_state()
 
+    # Check for required mksquashfs or mkfs.erofs tools
+    # If mksquashfs is missing fall back to erofs
+    if opts.rootfs_type.startswith("squashfs"):
+        if not shutil.which("mksquashfs"):
+            log.warning("mksquashfs not installed, falling back to --rootfs-type=erofs")
+            opts.rootfs_type = "erofs"
+
+    if opts.rootfs_type.startswith("erofs"):
+        if not shutil.which("mkfs.erofs"):
+            log.error("mkfs.erofs not installed, exiting")
+            sys.exit(1)
+
     if not opts.workdir:
         if not os.path.exists(opts.tmp):
             os.makedirs(opts.tmp)