diff --git a/docs/changelog.md b/docs/changelog.md
index eae332ac..9dc2f73f 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.md
+++ b/docs/changelog.md
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ Requires libvips v8.6.1.
 
 #### v0.20.1 - TBD
 
+* Improve installation experience when a globally-installed libvips below the minimum required version is found.
+  [#1148](https://github.com/lovell/sharp/issues/1148)
+
 * Prevent smartcrop error when cumulative rounding is below target size.
   [#1154](https://github.com/lovell/sharp/issues/1154)
   [@ralrom](https://github.com/ralrom)
diff --git a/install/libvips.js b/install/libvips.js
index 231c02db..66164d7a 100644
--- a/install/libvips.js
+++ b/install/libvips.js
@@ -18,8 +18,9 @@ const minimumLibvipsVersion = libvips.minimumLibvipsVersion;
 const distBaseUrl = process.env.SHARP_DIST_BASE_URL || `https://github.com/lovell/sharp-libvips/releases/download/v${minimumLibvipsVersion}/`;
 
 try {
-  const globalLibvipsVersion = libvips.globalLibvipsVersion();
-  if (globalLibvipsVersion) {
+  const useGlobalLibvips = libvips.useGlobalLibvips();
+  if (useGlobalLibvips) {
+    const globalLibvipsVersion = libvips.globalLibvipsVersion();
     npmLog.info('sharp', `Detected globally-installed libvips v${globalLibvipsVersion}`);
     npmLog.info('sharp', 'Building from source via node-gyp');
     process.exit(1);