diff --git a/syntax_checkers/elixir/elixir.vim b/syntax_checkers/elixir/elixir.vim
index 93bca4d4..453bab5e 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/elixir/elixir.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/elixir/elixir.vim
@@ -14,19 +14,25 @@ if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_elixir_elixir_checker")
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_elixir_elixir_checker=1
 
+let s:syntastic_elixir_compile_command = 'elixir'
+
+if filereadable('mix.exs')
+    let s:syntastic_elixir_compile_command = 'mix compile'
+endif
+
 function! SyntaxCheckers_elixir_elixir_IsAvailable()
-    return executable('elixir')
+    if s:syntastic_elixir_compile_command == 'elixir'
+        return executable('elixir')
+    else
+        return executable('mix')
+    endif
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_elixir_elixir_GetLocList()
-    let makeprg = syntastic#makeprg#build({ 'exe': 'elixir' })
+    let makeprg = syntastic#makeprg#build({ 'exe': s:syntastic_elixir_compile_command })
     let errorformat = '** %*[^\ ] %f:%l: %m'
 
-    let elixir_results = SyntasticMake({ 'makeprg': makeprg, 'errorformat': errorformat })
-
-    if !empty(elixir_results)
-        return elixir_results
-    endif
+    return SyntasticMake({ 'makeprg': makeprg, 'errorformat': errorformat })
 endfunction
 
 call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({