diff --git a/src/wscript b/src/wscript
index 8ae13df47..ba069293a 100644
--- a/src/wscript
+++ b/src/wscript
@@ -173,7 +173,8 @@ def ns3_python_bindings(bld):
     if env['BINDINGS_TYPE'] not in ('modular', 'both'):
         return
 
-    if not os.path.exists(bld.path.find_dir("bindings").abspath()):
+    bindings_dir = bld.path.find_dir("bindings")
+    if bindings_dir is None or not os.path.exists(bindings_dir.abspath()):
         warnings.warn("(in %s) Requested to build modular python bindings, but apidefs dir not found "
                       "=> skipped the bindings." % str(bld.path),
                       Warning, stacklevel=2)