diff --git a/tools/idf_tools.py b/tools/idf_tools.py
index e0f4b08a4c..2184a36f0e 100755
--- a/tools/idf_tools.py
+++ b/tools/idf_tools.py
@@ -963,12 +963,15 @@ def get_python_env_path():
         with open(version_file_path, 'r') as version_file:
             idf_version_str = version_file.read()
     else:
+        idf_version_str = ''
         try:
             idf_version_str = subprocess.check_output(['git', 'describe'],
                                                       cwd=global_idf_path, env=os.environ).decode()
+        except OSError:
+            # OSError should cover FileNotFoundError and WindowsError
+            warn('Git was not found')
         except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
-            warn('Git describe was unsuccessul: {}'.format(e))
-            idf_version_str = ''
+            warn('Git describe was unsuccessul: {}'.format(e.output))
     match = re.match(r'^v([0-9]+\.[0-9]+).*', idf_version_str)
     if match:
         idf_version = match.group(1)
@@ -1347,7 +1350,7 @@ def action_install_python_env(args):  # type: ignore
     if os.path.exists(virtualenv_python):
         try:
             subprocess.check_call([virtualenv_python, '--version'], stdout=sys.stdout, stderr=sys.stderr)
-        except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
+        except (OSError, subprocess.CalledProcessError):
             # At this point we can reinstall the virtual environment if it is non-functional. This can happen at least
             # when the Python interpreter was removed which was used to create the virtual environment.
             reinstall = True