diff --git a/hardware/neopixel/neopix b/hardware/neopixel/neopix
index e135bbd6..3e1609cb 100755
--- a/hardware/neopixel/neopix
+++ b/hardware/neopixel/neopix
@@ -4,4 +4,8 @@ python_cmd='python3'
 command -v python3 > /dev/null || python_cmd=`python`
 
 BASEDIR=$(dirname $0)
-sudo $python_cmd -u $BASEDIR/neopix.py $@
+if [ "$1" == "check" ];then
+	$python_cmd -c "import rpi_ws281x"
+else
+	sudo $python_cmd -u $BASEDIR/neopix.py $@
+fi
diff --git a/hardware/neopixel/neopixel.js b/hardware/neopixel/neopixel.js
index 12214b33..fc5c6c51 100644
--- a/hardware/neopixel/neopixel.js
+++ b/hardware/neopixel/neopixel.js
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
             RED.log.warn("rpi-neopixels : "+RED._("node-red:rpi-gpio.errors.ignorenode"));
             allOK = false;
         }
-        else if (execSync('python -c "import rpi_ws281x"').toString() !== "") {
+        else if (execSync(piCommand+" check").toString() !== "") {
             RED.log.warn("rpi-neopixels : Can't find neopixel python library");
             allOK = false;
         }