diff --git a/bytebeat_compiler.py b/bytebeat_compiler.py
index 9150a70..3823f2d 100644
--- a/bytebeat_compiler.py
+++ b/bytebeat_compiler.py
@@ -4,9 +4,10 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
 	print(":: C bytebeat generator: compiler unit")
 
 from argparse import ArgumentParser
-from os import environ, makedirs
+from os import environ, makedirs, name as os_name
 from os.path import exists, join as path_join
 from shlex import split as command_line_split
+from shutil import which
 from sys import stdin, stdout, exit
 from typing import Dict, Union
 import subprocess
@@ -86,12 +87,27 @@ preprocessor_bool = lambda value: "1" if value else "0"
 C_str_repr = lambda s: '"' + s.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace(r'"', r'\"') + '"'
 
 CC = fetch("CC")
+
+CC_SEARCH_LIST = [
+	"gcc",
+	"clang",
+	"tcc"
+]
+if os_name == "nt":
+	CC_SEARCH_LIST = [
+		"msc",
+		*CC_SEARCH_LIST
+	]
+
 CFLAGS = fetch("CFLAGS")
 INPUT_FILE = fetch("INPUT_FILE")
 OUTPUT_FILE = fetch("OUTPUT_FILE")
 if extra := fetch("CFLAGS_EXTRA"):
 	CFLAGS += " " + extra
 
+is_cmd_available = lambda cmd: which(cmd) is not None
+is_cmd_unavailable = lambda cmd: which(cmd) is None
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
 	parser = ArgumentParser(description=\
 		"Substitutes supplied C (non-JavaScript!) bytebeat into the template, "
@@ -238,10 +254,28 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
 		"ansi_escape_codes_supported": ansi_escape_codes_supported
 	}, read_file(PATHS["template"]), args.show_substituted_values))
 
-	# Compile by invoking the shell script
+	if is_cmd_unavailable(CC):
+		print(f"Compiler {CC} not available, searching:")
+
+		still_unavailable = True
+		for compiler in CC_SEARCH_LIST:
+			print(f"* Trying CC={compiler}", end="")
+			if is_cmd_available(compiler):
+				print(": OK")
+				CC = compiler
+				still_unavailable = False
+				break
+			else:
+				print()
+
+		if still_unavailable:
+			print("Could not find an available compiler. Please specify it by "
+			      "setting\nenvironmental variable CC.")
+			exit(2)
+
+	# Compile
 	print("Compiling")
 
-	# Let the system execute aliases by calling os.system
 	command = [
 		CC,
 		*command_line_split(CFLAGS),
@@ -251,4 +285,5 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
 		"-I" + PATHS["include_directory"]
 	]
 	print(" ".join(command), flush=True)
+
 	exit(subprocess.run(command).returncode)