diff --git a/bin/cli.js b/bin/cli.js
index c80a2e129..ceafbcc46 100755
--- a/bin/cli.js
+++ b/bin/cli.js
@@ -2,8 +2,13 @@
 var standardVersion = require('../index')
 var cmdParser = require('../command')
 
-standardVersion(cmdParser.argv, function (err) {
-  if (err) {
-    process.exit(1)
-  }
-})
+/* istanbul ignore if */
+if (process.version.match(/v(\d+)\./)[1] < 4) {
+  console.error('standard-version: Node v4 or greater is required. `standard-version` did not run.')
+} else {
+  standardVersion(cmdParser.argv, function (err) {
+    if (err) {
+      process.exit(1)
+    }
+  })
+}