diff --git a/src/blinkstick/backends/unix_like.py b/src/blinkstick/backends/unix_like.py
index 052d9f1..db6179f 100644
--- a/src/blinkstick/backends/unix_like.py
+++ b/src/blinkstick/backends/unix_like.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 from blinkstick.constants import VENDOR_ID, PRODUCT_ID
 from blinkstick.backends.base import BaseBackend
 from blinkstick.devices import BlinkStickDevice
-from blinkstick.exceptions import BlinkStickException
+from blinkstick.exceptions import BlinkStickException, USBBackendNotAvailable
 from blinkstick.models import SerialDetails
 
 
@@ -38,10 +38,18 @@ def _refresh_attached_blinkstick_device(self):
     def get_attached_blinkstick_devices(
         find_all: bool = True,
     ) -> list[BlinkStickDevice[usb.core.Device]]:
-        raw_devices = (
-            usb.core.find(find_all=find_all, idVendor=VENDOR_ID, idProduct=PRODUCT_ID)
-            or []
-        )
+        try:
+            raw_devices = (
+                usb.core.find(
+                    find_all=find_all, idVendor=VENDOR_ID, idProduct=PRODUCT_ID
+                )
+                or []
+            )
+        except usb.core.NoBackendError:
+            # TODO: improve this error message to provide more information on how to remediate the problem
+            raise USBBackendNotAvailable(
+                "Could not find USB backend. Is libusb installed?"
+            )
         return [
             # TODO: refactor this to DRY up the usb.util.get_string calls
             BlinkStickDevice(
diff --git a/src/blinkstick/exceptions.py b/src/blinkstick/exceptions.py
index 86f6f51..1cc2d84 100644
--- a/src/blinkstick/exceptions.py
+++ b/src/blinkstick/exceptions.py
@@ -7,3 +7,7 @@ class BlinkStickException(Exception):
 
 class NotConnected(BlinkStickException):
     pass
+
+
+class USBBackendNotAvailable(BlinkStickException):
+    pass