diff --git a/beef b/beef
index 3546ef3c3..5a5c2ab9a 100755
--- a/beef
+++ b/beef
@@ -16,6 +16,14 @@
 #   limitations under the License.
 #
 
+# check version supported
+if  RUBY_VERSION < '1.9'
+  puts "\n"
+  puts "Ruby version " + RUBY_VERSION + " is no longer supported. Please upgrade 1.9 or later."
+  puts "\n"
+  exit
+end
+
 $:.unshift(File.join(File.expand_path(File.dirname(__FILE__)), '.'))
 
 $root_dir = File.expand_path('..', __FILE__)
diff --git a/install b/install
index f37ccf3e4..a8adaf88f 100644
--- a/install
+++ b/install
@@ -20,6 +20,16 @@ require 'rubygems'
 
 puts "\nWelcome to the BEeF installer!"
 
+if  RUBY_VERSION < '1.9'
+  puts "\n"
+  puts "Ruby version " + RUBY_VERSION + " is no longer supported. Please upgrade 1.9 or later."
+  puts "\n"
+  exit
+end
+
+puts "\nPlease make sure you have installed SQLite before proceeding.  For instructions on how to do this please see the README file"
+
+
 puts "\nPlease make sure you have installed SQLite before proceeding.  For instructions on how to do this please see the README file"
 
 # array of required gems - add to as needed (specify a version if needed eg "gem_name, =x.x.x")