diff --git a/plugin/xlib/vimdot.sh b/plugin/xlib/vimdot.sh
index 749fe6a..a45927e 100755
--- a/plugin/xlib/vimdot.sh
+++ b/plugin/xlib/vimdot.sh
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 error() { echo "$0: $*" >&2; exit 1; }
 
 editor="/usr/bin/vim"
+[ -x "$editor" ] || editor="/usr/bin/vi"
 
 if ! test -x "$editor"; then error "the \"$editor\" editor not found or not executable"; fi