diff --git a/init.el b/init.el
index fab720b..3cc3364 100644
--- a/init.el
+++ b/init.el
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@
 
 (message "Prelude is powering up... Be patient, Master %s!" current-user)
 
+(when (version< emacs-version "24.1")
+  (error "Prelude requires at least GNU Emacs 24.1"))
+
 (defvar prelude-dir (file-name-directory load-file-name)
   "The root dir of the Emacs Prelude distribution.")
 (defvar prelude-core-dir (expand-file-name "core" prelude-dir)