diff --git a/install_minimal/include/AirtimeInstall.php b/install_minimal/include/AirtimeInstall.php
index 1459ff2d7..67cebe862 100644
--- a/install_minimal/include/AirtimeInstall.php
+++ b/install_minimal/include/AirtimeInstall.php
@@ -68,6 +68,8 @@ class AirtimeInstall
             if (PEAR::isError($version)) {
                 return null;
             }
+            // no version string detected
+            $version = false;
             return $version;
         }
     }
diff --git a/install_minimal/include/airtime-install.php b/install_minimal/include/airtime-install.php
index 34cc172cb..8fe9e5ef5 100644
--- a/install_minimal/include/airtime-install.php
+++ b/install_minimal/include/airtime-install.php
@@ -71,6 +71,11 @@ if (isset($version) && ($version != false) && ($version < AIRTIME_VERSION) && !i
     exit(2);
 }
 
+if($version == false){
+    echo "A version of Airtime older than 1.8.0 detected, please upgrade to 1.8.0 first.\n";
+    echo "You will then be able to upgrade to 1.9.0 using this installer.\n";
+    exit(3);
+}
 // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // The only way we get here is if we are doing a new install or a reinstall.
 // -------------------------------------------------------------------------