diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3310051..1ba82f9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ This just works if you're all under the same LAN, but if you want to play over t
 
 ## Compiling 
 
-OpenFusion has one external dependency: SQLite. You can install it on Windows using `vcpkg`, and on Unix/Linux using your distribution's package manager. For a more indepth guide on how to set up vcpkg, [read this guide on the wiki](https://github.com/OpenFusionProject/OpenFusion/wiki/Installing-SQLite-on-Windows-using-vcpkg).
+OpenFusion has one external dependency: SQLite. The oldest compatible version is `3.33.0`. You can install it on Windows using `vcpkg`, and on Unix/Linux using your distribution's package manager. For a more indepth guide on how to set up vcpkg, [read this guide on the wiki](https://github.com/OpenFusionProject/OpenFusion/wiki/Installing-SQLite-on-Windows-using-vcpkg).
 
 You have two choices for compiling OpenFusion: the included Makefile and the included CMakeLists file.
 
diff --git a/src/db/Database.hpp b/src/db/Database.hpp
index 4d8a25d..48fd0f6 100644
--- a/src/db/Database.hpp
+++ b/src/db/Database.hpp
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ namespace Database {
         uint64_t Timestamp;
     };
     
+    void init();
     void open();
     void close();
 
diff --git a/src/db/init.cpp b/src/db/init.cpp
index a827473..942522f 100644
--- a/src/db/init.cpp
+++ b/src/db/init.cpp
@@ -236,7 +236,20 @@ static int getTableSize(std::string tableName) {
     return result;
 }
 
+void Database::init() {
+    std::cout << "[INFO] Built with libsqlite " SQLITE_VERSION << std::endl;
+
+    if (sqlite3_libversion_number() != SQLITE_VERSION_NUMBER)
+        std::cout << "[INFO] Using libsqlite " << std::string(sqlite3_libversion()) << std::endl;
+
+    if (sqlite3_libversion_number() < MIN_SUPPORTED_SQLITE_NUMBER) {
+        std::cerr << "[FATAL] Runtime sqlite version too old. Minimum compatible version: " MIN_SUPPORTED_SQLITE << std::endl;
+        exit(1);
+    }
+}
+
 void Database::open() {
+
     // XXX: move locks here
     int rc = sqlite3_open(settings::DBPATH.c_str(), &db);
     if (rc != SQLITE_OK) {
diff --git a/src/db/internal.hpp b/src/db/internal.hpp
index 376960e..b51258f 100644
--- a/src/db/internal.hpp
+++ b/src/db/internal.hpp
@@ -3,6 +3,15 @@
 #include "db/Database.hpp"
 #include <sqlite3.h>
 
+#define MIN_SUPPORTED_SQLITE_NUMBER 3033000
+#define MIN_SUPPORTED_SQLITE "3.33.0"
+// we can't use this in #error, since it doesn't expand macros
+
+// Compile-time libsqlite version check
+#if SQLITE_VERSION_NUMBER < MIN_SUPPORTED_SQLITE_NUMBER
+#error libsqlite version too old. Minimum compatible version: 3.33.0
+#endif
+
 extern std::mutex dbCrit;
 extern sqlite3 *db;
 
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 314bb22..750d9f8 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -98,6 +98,9 @@ void initsignals() {
 }
 
 int main() {
+    std::cout << "[INFO] OpenFusion v" GIT_VERSION << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "[INFO] Protocol version: " << PROTOCOL_VERSION << std::endl;
+
 #ifdef _WIN32
     WSADATA wsaData;
     if (WSAStartup(MAKEWORD(1, 1), &wsaData) != 0) {
@@ -105,15 +108,15 @@ int main() {
         exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
 #endif
+
     initsignals();
     settings::init();
-
-    std::cout << "[INFO] OpenFusion v" GIT_VERSION << std::endl;
-    std::cout << "[INFO] Protocol version: " << PROTOCOL_VERSION << std::endl;
-    std::cout << "[INFO] Intializing Packet Managers..." << std::endl;
-
+    Database::init();
     Rand::init(getTime());
     TableData::init();
+
+    std::cout << "[INFO] Intializing Packet Managers..." << std::endl;
+
     PlayerManager::init();
     PlayerMovement::init();
     BuiltinCommands::init();
@@ -132,9 +135,10 @@ int main() {
     Email::init();
     Groups::init();
     Racing::init();
-    Database::open();
     Trading::init();
 
+    Database::open();
+
     switch (settings::EVENTMODE) {
     case 0: break; // no event
     case 1: std::cout << "[INFO] Event active. Hey, Hey It's Knishmas!" << std::endl; break;