diff -r f49808fe3c07 autobuild/common.py
--- a/autobuild/common.py	Thu Jan 20 15:03:01 2011 -0800
+++ b/autobuild/common.py	Fri Jan 28 08:11:22 2011 -0500
@@ -103,7 +103,8 @@
     """
     scp = find_executable(['pscp', 'scp'], ['.exe'])
     if not scp:
-        raise AutobuildError("cannot find an appropriate scp or pscp command")
+        logger.warning("cannot find an appropriate scp or pscp command; some packages may not be accessible")
+        scp = 'NOSCPFOUND'
     return scp
 
 def get_default_install_cache_dir():
@@ -411,6 +412,8 @@
         if not self._dir:
             self._dir = tempfile.mkdtemp()
         local = os.path.join(self._dir, remote.split('/')[-1])
+        if self._scp == 'NOSCPFOUND':
+            raise AutobuildError("no scp command available; cannot fetch %s" % remote)
         command = (self._scp, remote, local)
         rv = subprocess.call(command)
         if rv != 0: