diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 8761959a..ca8c6046 100755
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ dnl package checks, common for all configs
 SPARKLESHARE_CHECK_GTK_SHARP
 
 SPARKLESHARE_SMARTIRC4NET
-PKG_CHECK_MODULES([SMARTIRC4NET], [smartirc4net],
+PKG_CHECK_MODULES([SMARTIRC4NET], [smartirc4net >= 0.5],
 	SMARTIRC4NET_ASSEMBLY=""
 	AC_SUBST(SMARTIRC4NET_ASSEMBLY)
 	,