--- a/sos/policies/distros/__init__.py
+++ b/sos/policies/distros/__init__.py
@@ -128,6 +128,8 @@
             return True
         # next check os-release for a NAME or ID value we expect
+        if not os.path.exists(OS_RELEASE):
+            return False
         with open(OS_RELEASE, "r", encoding='utf-8') as f:
             return _check_release(f.read())