diff --git a/include/linux/compiler-gcc3.h b/include/linux/compiler-gcc3.h
index 2befe6513ce4ab31613d26b22b398bbce627598f..8005effc04f19097aa781caf016a666e492adcb1 100644
--- a/include/linux/compiler-gcc3.h
+++ b/include/linux/compiler-gcc3.h
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 #error "Please don't include <linux/compiler-gcc3.h> directly, include <linux/compiler.h> instead."
 #endif
 
+#if __GNUC_MINOR__ < 2
+# error Sorry, your compiler is too old - please upgrade it.
+#endif
+
 #if __GNUC_MINOR__ >= 3
 # define __used			__attribute__((__used__))
 #else