diff --git a/build.zig b/build.zig
index 58067fc..fd5a468 100644
--- a/build.zig
+++ b/build.zig
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ const CompileStep = std.Build.Step.Compile;
 /// set this to true to link libc
 const should_link_libc = false;
 
+const required_zig_version = std.SemanticVersion.parse("0.12.0-dev.1754+2a3226453") catch unreachable;
+
 fn linkObject(b: *Build, obj: *CompileStep) void {
     if (should_link_libc) obj.linkLibC();
     _ = b;
@@ -13,6 +15,11 @@ fn linkObject(b: *Build, obj: *CompileStep) void {
 }
 
 pub fn build(b: *Build) void {
+    if (comptime @import("builtin").zig_version.order(required_zig_version) == .lt) {
+        std.debug.print("Warning: Your version of Zig too old. You will need to download a newer build\n", .{});
+        std.os.exit(1);
+    }
+
     const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
     const mode = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});