diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/extend/ENV/shared.rb b/Library/Homebrew/extend/ENV/shared.rb
index f4aac1d4e7..31904c2803 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/extend/ENV/shared.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/extend/ENV/shared.rb
@@ -188,16 +188,21 @@ module SharedEnvExtension
   def gcc_version_formula(version)
     gcc_formula = Formulary.factory("gcc")
     gcc_name = 'gcc' + version.delete('.')
-    gcc_versions_formula = Formulary.factory(gcc_name)
 
     if gcc_formula.opt_prefix.exist?
-      gcc_formula
-    elsif gcc_versions_formula.opt_prefix.exist?
+      return gcc_formula
+    end
+
+    gcc_versions_formula = Formulary.factory(gcc_name) rescue nil
+
+    if gcc_versions_formula && gcc_versions_formula.opt_prefix.exist?
       gcc_versions_formula
     elsif gcc_formula.version.to_s.include?(version)
       gcc_formula
-    else
+    elsif gcc_versions_formula
       gcc_versions_formula
+    else
+      Formulary.factory(gcc_name)
     end
   end