diff --git a/makepanda/makepandacore.py b/makepanda/makepandacore.py
index 04712b9f85..20f63577c8 100644
--- a/makepanda/makepandacore.py
+++ b/makepanda/makepandacore.py
@@ -558,10 +558,17 @@ def GetFlexVersion():
     if not flex:
         return None
 
-    handle = subprocess.Popen(["flex", "--version"], executable=flex, stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
-    version = handle.communicate()[0].strip().splitlines()[0].split(b' ')[-1]
-    version = tuple(map(int, version.split(b'.')))
-    return version
+    try:
+        handle = subprocess.Popen(["flex", "--version"], executable=flex, stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
+        words = handle.communicate()[0].strip().splitlines()[0].split(b' ')
+        if words[1] != "version":
+            version = words[1]
+        else:
+            version = words[2]
+        return tuple(map(int, version.split(b'.')))
+    except:
+        Warn("Unable to detect flex version")
+        return (0, 0, 0)
 
 ########################################################################
 ##