diff --git a/anki/__init__.py b/anki/__init__.py
index 80ae7723b..55f2f1782 100644
--- a/anki/__init__.py
+++ b/anki/__init__.py
@@ -37,15 +37,17 @@ Save & close:
     col.close()
 """
 
-import sys, simplejson as _simplejson
+import sys, simplejson as _simplejson, httplib2 as _httplib2
 if sys.version_info[0] > 2:
-    raise Exception("Anki should be run with python2.x.")
+    raise Exception("Anki should be run with Python 2")
 elif sys.version_info[1] < 5:
     raise Exception("Anki requires Python 2.5+")
 elif sys.getfilesystemencoding().lower() in ("ascii", "ansi_x3.4-1968"):
     raise Exception("Anki requires a UTF-8 locale.")
 elif _simplejson.__version__ < "1.7.3":
     raise Exception("SimpleJSON must be 1.7.3 or later.")
+elif _httplib2.__version__ < "0.7.0":
+    raise Exception("Httplib2 must be 0.7.0 or later.")
 
 version = "1.99"
 from anki.storage import Collection