diff --git a/download.js b/download.js
index 28f6c6b..2685042 100644
--- a/download.js
+++ b/download.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ function downloadPrebuild (opts, cb) {
   var localPrebuild = util.localPrebuild(downloadUrl)
   var tempFile = util.tempFile(cachedPrebuild)
 
-  var rc = opts.rc
+  var rc = opts.rc || {}
   var log = opts.log || noop
 
   if (opts.nolocal) return download()
diff --git a/gypbuild.js b/gypbuild.js
index 3aa110a..6835f32 100644
--- a/gypbuild.js
+++ b/gypbuild.js
@@ -3,17 +3,18 @@ var util = require('./util')
 
 function runGyp (opts, version, cb) {
   var log = opts.log
-  if (!opts.rc.preinstall) return run()
+  var rc = opts.rc || {}
+  if (!rc.preinstall) return run()
 
   log.verbose('executing preinstall')
-  util.spawn(opts.rc.preinstall, function (err) {
+  util.spawn(rc.preinstall, function (err) {
     if (err) return cb(err)
     run()
   })
 
   function run () {
-    var args = ['node', 'index.js', 'rebuild', '--target=' + version, '--target_arch=' + opts.rc.arch]
-    if (opts.rc.debug) args.push('--debug')
+    var args = ['node', 'index.js', 'rebuild', '--target=' + version, '--target_arch=' + rc.arch]
+    if (rc.debug) args.push('--debug')
 
     gyp({
       gyp: opts.gyp,
diff --git a/util.js b/util.js
index ad5435e..ed5d3ef 100644
--- a/util.js
+++ b/util.js
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ function platform () {
 }
 
 function releaseFolder (opts) {
-  var type = (opts.rc.debug ? 'Debug' : 'Release')
+  var type = ((opts.rc && opts.rc.debug) ? 'Debug' : 'Release')
   var binary = opts.pkg.binary
   return (binary && binary.module_path) || 'build/' + type
 }