diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 3c0de5d..eb2f771 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -73,6 +73,11 @@ GNU General Public License for more details.
 You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 along with autojump.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
+Requirements
+============
+
+Python v2.6+ or 3.0+
+
 Installation
 ============
 
diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index b20fe68..819c0b4 100755
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -91,8 +91,18 @@ while true; do
     esac
 done
 
+# check Python version
+python_version=`python -c 'import sys; print(sys.version_info[:])'`
+if [[ ${python_version:1:1} -eq 2 && ${python_version:4:1} -lt 6 ]]; then
+    echo
+    echo "Incompatible Python version, please upgrade Python to v2.6+"
+fi
+
+# check for valid options
 if [[ ${UID} != 0 ]] && [ ! ${local} ]; then
+    echo
     echo "Please rerun as root or use the --local option."
+    echo
     exit 1
 fi