diff --git a/packages/node_modules/node-red/red.js b/packages/node_modules/node-red/red.js
index 63c0188bd..3fd0b0cb6 100755
--- a/packages/node_modules/node-red/red.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/node-red/red.js
@@ -26,6 +26,15 @@ if (process.argv[2] === 'admin') {
     return;
 }
 
+var node_ver = parseInt(process.version.split('.')[0].substring(1));
+var node_rqd = parseInt((require('./package.json').engines.node).match(/\d+/).join(''));
+if (node_ver < node_rqd) {
+    console.log("This version of Node-RED requires Node.js version",node_rqd,"as a minimum.");
+    console.log("Please upgrade your Node.js version and restart.")
+    process.exit(1);
+}
+// else { console.log(node_ver,">=",node_rqd,"- OK")}
+
 var http = require('http');
 var https = require('https');
 var util = require("util");