diff --git a/contrib/git-obs-complete.bash b/contrib/git-obs-complete.bash
index 8c35bbdf..ab07bed7 100644
--- a/contrib/git-obs-complete.bash
+++ b/contrib/git-obs-complete.bash
@@ -1 +1,4 @@
+# exit immediately if argcomplete is not available
+[ -e '/usr/bin/register-python-argcomplete' ] || exit 0
+
 eval "$(register-python-argcomplete --shell bash git-obs)"
diff --git a/contrib/git-obs-complete.fish b/contrib/git-obs-complete.fish
index 0506db8c..56a12792 100644
--- a/contrib/git-obs-complete.fish
+++ b/contrib/git-obs-complete.fish
@@ -1 +1,4 @@
+# exit immediately if argcomplete is not available
+[ -e '/usr/bin/register-python-argcomplete' ] || exit 0
+
 eval "$(register-python-argcomplete --shell fish git-obs)"
diff --git a/contrib/git-obs-complete.zsh b/contrib/git-obs-complete.zsh
index 73c95c5b..f0c2513c 100644
--- a/contrib/git-obs-complete.zsh
+++ b/contrib/git-obs-complete.zsh
@@ -1 +1,4 @@
+# exit immediately if argcomplete is not available
+[ -e '/usr/bin/register-python-argcomplete' ] || exit 0
+
 eval "$(register-python-argcomplete --shell zsh git-obs)"