diff --git a/README b/README
index 4ce40d09d..4ab765285 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ sudo apt-get install python-qt4 mplayer lame libportaudio2
 If you're on another distribution the packages may be named differently, so
 please consult your package manager.
 
-Your Python version will need to be 2.6 or 2.7 (not 3+), and PyQt needs to be
-4.7 or later.
+Your Python version will need to be 2.6 or 2.7 (not 3+), and both Qt and PyQt
+need to be 4.7 or later.
 
 Installation & Running
 ------------------------
diff --git a/aqt/__init__.py b/aqt/__init__.py
index 30feaff8c..ca588d9be 100644
--- a/aqt/__init__.py
+++ b/aqt/__init__.py
@@ -201,6 +201,12 @@ No usable temporary folder found. Make sure C:\\temp exists or TEMP in your \
 environment points to a valid, writable folder.""")
         return
 
+    # qt version must be up to date
+    if qtmajor <= 4 and qtminor <= 6:
+        QMessageBox.critical(
+            None, "Error", "Anki requires Qt4.7 or later.")
+        return
+
     # parse args
     opts, args = parseArgs(sys.argv)
     opts.base = unicode(opts.base or "", sys.getfilesystemencoding())
diff --git a/aqt/qt.py b/aqt/qt.py
index 0a4ac4891..0a5626c98 100644
--- a/aqt/qt.py
+++ b/aqt/qt.py
@@ -29,3 +29,8 @@ if os.environ.get("DEBUG"):
         from pdb import pm
         pm()
     sys.excepthook = info
+
+qtconf = pyqtconfig.Configuration()
+qtmajor = (qtconf.qt_version & 0xff0000) >> 16
+qtminor = (qtconf.qt_version & 0x00ff00) >> 8
+