diff --git a/attributes/default.rb b/attributes/default.rb
index 945e1d96..fcf06f5f 100644
--- a/attributes/default.rb
+++ b/attributes/default.rb
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 default['ark']['tar'] = case node['platform_family']
                         when 'windows'
                           "\"#{::Win32::Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.open(
-                            'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\7zFM.exe', ::Win32::Registry::KEY_READ).read_s('Path')}\\7z.exe\""
+                            'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\7zFM.exe', ::Win32::Registry::KEY_READ).read_s('Path')}\\7z.exe\"" rescue nil
                         when 'mac_os_x', 'freebsd'
                           '/usr/bin/tar'
                         when 'smartos'
diff --git a/libraries/sevenzip_command_builder.rb b/libraries/sevenzip_command_builder.rb
index 48e62952..f1506c7c 100644
--- a/libraries/sevenzip_command_builder.rb
+++ b/libraries/sevenzip_command_builder.rb
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ def sevenzip_command
     end
 
     def sevenzip_binary
-      resource.run_context.node['ark']['tar']
+      resource.run_context.node['ark']['tar'] ||= "\"#{::Win32::Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.open(
+        'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\7zFM.exe', ::Win32::Registry::KEY_READ).read_s('Path')}\\7z.exe\"" rescue '7z.exe'
     end
 
     def sevenzip_command_builder(dir, command)