diff --git a/pgfixture/pg.go b/pgfixture/pg.go
index 7bd5ff1..8b2d3a2 100644
--- a/pgfixture/pg.go
+++ b/pgfixture/pg.go
@@ -2,12 +2,38 @@ package pgfixture
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"io/ioutil"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 )
 
+func lookPath(t *testing.T, name string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	path, err := exec.LookPath(name)
+	if err == nil {
+		return path
+	}
+
+	const ubuntuPostgres = "/usr/lib/postgresql"
+
+	if dirs, err := ioutil.ReadDir(ubuntuPostgres); err == nil {
+		for _, d := range dirs {
+			path := filepath.Join(ubuntuPostgres, d.Name(), "bin", name)
+
+			if _, err := os.Stat(path); err == nil {
+				return path
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	t.Fatalf("%s binary not found; is postgres installed?", name)
+	return ""
+}
+
 func Start(t *testing.T) string {
 	pgconn, ok := os.LookupEnv("PGCONN")
 	if ok {
@@ -15,31 +41,21 @@ func Start(t *testing.T) string {
 		return pgconn
 	}
 
-	_, err := exec.LookPath("initdb")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("initdb binary not found; is postgres installed?")
-	}
-
-	_, err = exec.LookPath("postgres")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("postgres binary not found; is postgres installed?")
-	}
-
 	pgdata := t.TempDir()
 
-	cmd := exec.Command("initdb", "-N", "-D", pgdata)
+	cmd := exec.Command(lookPath(t, "initdb"), "-N", "-D", pgdata)
 	cmd.Stderr = os.Stderr
 	cmd.Stdout = os.Stdout
-	if err = cmd.Run(); err != nil {
+	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("initdb failed: %v", err)
 	}
 
 	pgrun := t.TempDir()
 
-	cmd = exec.Command("postgres", "-D", pgdata, "-k", pgrun, "-F")
+	cmd = exec.Command(lookPath(t, "postgres"), "-D", pgdata, "-k", pgrun, "-F")
 	cmd.Stderr = os.Stderr
 	cmd.Stdout = os.Stdout
-	if err = cmd.Start(); err != nil {
+	if err := cmd.Start(); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("postgres failed: %v", err)
 	}
 
@@ -49,7 +65,7 @@ func Start(t *testing.T) string {
 	}()
 
 	select {
-	case <-finished:
+	case err := <-finished:
 		t.Fatalf("postgres server terminated: %v", err)
 
 	case <-time.After(time.Second / 2):