diff --git a/kombu/transport/pyamqp.py b/kombu/transport/pyamqp.py
index 2ad938c7..aff61703 100644
--- a/kombu/transport/pyamqp.py
+++ b/kombu/transport/pyamqp.py
@@ -12,13 +12,16 @@ from __future__ import absolute_import
 
 import amqp
 
-from kombu.exceptions import StdChannelError
+from kombu.exceptions import StdChannelError, VersionMismatch
 from kombu.utils.amq_manager import get_manager
 
 from . import base
 
 DEFAULT_PORT = 5672
 
+if amqp.VERSION < (0, 9, 3):
+    raise VersionMismatch('Please install amqp version 0.9.3 or higher.')
+
 
 class Message(base.Message):