diff --git a/bindings/python/setup.py b/bindings/python/setup.py
index 225d5c25..9466e0c4 100755
--- a/bindings/python/setup.py
+++ b/bindings/python/setup.py
@@ -151,8 +151,10 @@ def build_libraries():
 
     # check if a prebuilt library exists
     # if so, use it instead of building
-    if os.path.exists(os.path.join(ROOT_DIR, 'prebuilt', LIBRARY_FILE)):
+    if os.path.exists(os.path.join(ROOT_DIR, 'prebuilt', LIBRARY_FILE)) \
+            and os.path.exists(os.path.join(ROOT_DIR, 'prebuilt', STATIC_LIBRARY_FILE)):
         shutil.copy(os.path.join(ROOT_DIR, 'prebuilt', LIBRARY_FILE), LIBS_DIR)
+        shutil.copy(os.path.join(ROOT_DIR, 'prebuilt', STATIC_LIBRARY_FILE), LIBS_DIR)
         return
 
     # otherwise, build!!
@@ -177,10 +179,13 @@ def build_libraries():
 
     shutil.copy(LIBRARY_FILE, LIBS_DIR)
     try:
-        # static library may fail to build on windows if user doesn't have visual studio 12 installed. this is fine.
+        # static library may fail to build on windows if user doesn't have visual studio installed. this is fine.
         shutil.copy(STATIC_LIBRARY_FILE, LIBS_DIR)
     except:
-        pass
+        print('Warning: Could not build static library file! This build is not appropriate for a binary distribution')
+        # enforce this
+        if 'upload' in sys.argv:
+            sys.exit(1)
     os.chdir(cwd)