diff --git a/synapse/media/v1/__init__.py b/synapse/media/v1/__init__.py
index e69de29bb2..2b1762dcd8 100644
--- a/synapse/media/v1/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/media/v1/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+import PIL.Image
+
+# check for JPEG support.
+try:
+    PIL.Image._getdecoder("rgb", "jpeg", None)
+except IOError as e:
+    if str(e).startswith("decoder jpeg not available"):
+        raise Exception(
+            "FATAL: jpeg codec not supported. Install pillow correctly! "
+            " 'sudo apt-get install libjpeg-dev' then 'pip install -I pillow'"
+        )
+except Exception:
+    # any other exception is fine
+    pass
+
+
+# check for PNG support.
+try:
+    PIL.Image._getdecoder("rgb", "zip", None)
+except IOError as e:
+    if str(e).startswith("decoder zip not available"):
+        raise Exception(
+            "FATAL: zip codec not supported. Install pillow correctly! "
+            " 'sudo apt-get install libjpeg-dev' then 'pip install -I pillow'"
+        )
+except Exception:
+    # any other exception is fine
+    pass
\ No newline at end of file