diff --git a/README b/README
index ea65d95..d20b1e1 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ console. See kmscon(1) man-page for usage information.
 == Requirements ==
 
   Kmscon requires the following software:
-    - libudev: providing input, video, etc. device hotplug support
+    - libudev: providing input, video, etc. device hotplug support (>=v172)
     - libxkbcommon: providing internationalized keyboard handling
 
   Everything else is optional:
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 1d0a6af..dd9f287 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ PKG_CHECK_MODULES([SYSTEMD], [libsystemd-daemon libsystemd-login],
 AC_SUBST(SYSTEMD_CFLAGS)
 AC_SUBST(SYSTEMD_LIBS)
 
-PKG_CHECK_MODULES([UDEV], [libudev],
+PKG_CHECK_MODULES([UDEV], [libudev >= 172],
                   [have_udev=yes], [have_udev=no])
 AC_SUBST(UDEV_CFLAGS)
 AC_SUBST(UDEV_LIBS)