diff --git a/tools/gyp/pylib/gyp/xcode_emulation.py b/tools/gyp/pylib/gyp/xcode_emulation.py
index 407ead0..8bf64e7 100644
--- a/tools/gyp/pylib/gyp/xcode_emulation.py
+++ b/tools/gyp/pylib/gyp/xcode_emulation.py
@@ -446,10 +446,16 @@ class XcodeSettings(object):
 
   def _XcodeSdkPath(self, sdk_root):
     if sdk_root not in XcodeSettings._sdk_path_cache:
-      sdk_path = self._GetSdkVersionInfoItem(sdk_root, 'Path')
-      XcodeSettings._sdk_path_cache[sdk_root] = sdk_path
-      if sdk_root:
-        XcodeSettings._sdk_root_cache[sdk_path] = sdk_root
+      try:
+        sdk_path = self._GetSdkVersionInfoItem(sdk_root, 'Path')
+        XcodeSettings._sdk_path_cache[sdk_root] = sdk_path
+        if sdk_root:
+          XcodeSettings._sdk_root_cache[sdk_path] = sdk_root
+      except:
+        # if this fails it's because xcodebuild failed, which means
+        # the user is probably on a CLT-only system, where there
+        # is no valid SDK root
+        XcodeSettings._sdk_path_cache[sdk_root] = None
     return XcodeSettings._sdk_path_cache[sdk_root]
 
   def _AppendPlatformVersionMinFlags(self, lst):
@@ -572,10 +578,11 @@ class XcodeSettings(object):
       framework_root = sdk_root
     else:
       framework_root = ''
-    config = self.spec['configurations'][self.configname]
-    framework_dirs = config.get('mac_framework_dirs', [])
-    for directory in framework_dirs:
-      cflags.append('-F' + directory.replace('$(SDKROOT)', framework_root))
+    if 'SDKROOT' in self._Settings():
+      config = self.spec['configurations'][self.configname]
+      framework_dirs = config.get('mac_framework_dirs', [])
+      for directory in framework_dirs:
+        cflags.append('-F' + directory.replace('$(SDKROOT)', framework_root))
 
     self.configname = None
     return cflags
@@ -826,10 +833,11 @@ class XcodeSettings(object):
     sdk_root = self._SdkPath()
     if not sdk_root:
       sdk_root = ''
-    config = self.spec['configurations'][self.configname]
-    framework_dirs = config.get('mac_framework_dirs', [])
-    for directory in framework_dirs:
-      ldflags.append('-F' + directory.replace('$(SDKROOT)', sdk_root))
+    if 'SDKROOT' in self._Settings():
+      config = self.spec['configurations'][self.configname]
+      framework_dirs = config.get('mac_framework_dirs', [])
+      for directory in framework_dirs:
+        ldflags.append('-F' + directory.replace('$(SDKROOT)', sdk_root))
 
     is_extension = self._IsIosAppExtension() or self._IsIosWatchKitExtension()
     if sdk_root and is_extension: