diff --git a/bindings/java/src/org/hyperic/sigar/vmware/VMControlLibrary.java b/bindings/java/src/org/hyperic/sigar/vmware/VMControlLibrary.java
index 006339f3..f57d21c8 100644
--- a/bindings/java/src/org/hyperic/sigar/vmware/VMControlLibrary.java
+++ b/bindings/java/src/org/hyperic/sigar/vmware/VMControlLibrary.java
@@ -175,12 +175,17 @@ public class VMControlLibrary {
             out = new File(out, VMCONTROL_SO);
         }
 
-        setSharedLibrary(out.getPath());
+        boolean exists = out.exists();
 
-        if (out.exists()) {
+        if (exists) {
+            setSharedLibrary(out.getPath());
             return; //already linked
         }
 
+        if (!new File(VMCONTROL_TAR).exists()) {
+            return; //VMware not installed
+        }
+
         File dir = out.getParentFile();
         if (!(dir.isDirectory() && dir.canWrite())) {
             throw new IOException("Cannot write to: " + dir);
@@ -216,6 +221,8 @@ public class VMControlLibrary {
         };
 
         exec(link_args);
+
+        setSharedLibrary(out.getPath());
     }
 
     public static boolean isLoaded() {