diff --git a/plugins/nginx/nginx.plugin.zsh b/plugins/nginx/nginx.plugin.zsh
index b2c2090c8..24a455c13 100644
--- a/plugins/nginx/nginx.plugin.zsh
+++ b/plugins/nginx/nginx.plugin.zsh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 : ${NGINX_DIR:=/etc/nginx}
 : ${NGINX_VHOST_TEMPLATE:=$ZSH/plugins/nginx/templates/symfony2}
 
-if [ $use_sudo -eq 1 ]; then
+if [[ -e $( which -p sudo 2>&1 ) ]]; then
     sudo="sudo"
 else
     sudo=""