diff --git a/mopidy/__init__.py b/mopidy/__init__.py
index 26e5b904..3b0f76a5 100644
--- a/mopidy/__init__.py
+++ b/mopidy/__init__.py
@@ -2,12 +2,17 @@ import sys
 if not (2, 6) <= sys.version_info < (3,):
     sys.exit(u'Mopidy requires Python >= 2.6, < 3')
 
+from distutils.version import StrictVersion
 import os
 import platform
 from subprocess import PIPE, Popen
 
 import glib
 
+import pykka
+if StrictVersion(pykka.__version__) < StrictVersion('0.16'):
+    sys.exit(u'Mopidy requires Pykka >= 0.16')
+
 __version__ = '0.8.0'
 
 DATA_PATH = os.path.join(str(glib.get_user_data_dir()), 'mopidy')