diff --git a/mpf/config_spec.yaml b/mpf/config_spec.yaml
index d9a8aae37..2aedefef2 100644
--- a/mpf/config_spec.yaml
+++ b/mpf/config_spec.yaml
@@ -1112,6 +1112,7 @@ mpf:
     core_modules: ignore
     config_players: ignore
     device_modules: ignore
+    min_mpf_version: single|str|None
     plugins: ignore
     platforms: ignore
     paths: ignore
diff --git a/mpf/core/machine.py b/mpf/core/machine.py
index 81d2167de..038b90bbb 100644
--- a/mpf/core/machine.py
+++ b/mpf/core/machine.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 import threading
 from typing import Any, Callable, Dict, List, Set, Optional
 
+from packaging import version
 from pkg_resources import iter_entry_points
 
 from mpf._version import __version__
@@ -368,6 +369,16 @@ def _validate_config(self) -> None:
         self.validate_machine_config_section('machine')
         self.validate_machine_config_section('game')
         self.validate_machine_config_section('mpf')
+        self._validate_version()
+
+    def _validate_version(self):
+        if not self.config['mpf']['min_mpf_version']:
+            return
+        min_version = version.parse(self.config['mpf']['min_mpf_version'])
+        mpf_version = version.parse(__version__)
+        if mpf_version < min_version:
+            raise AssertionError(f'MPF version mismatch. MPF version {mpf_version} found but game config '
+                                 f'requires at least {min_version} ')
 
     def validate_machine_config_section(self, section: str) -> None:
         """Validate a config section."""