diff --git a/src/common.cc b/src/common.cc
index 1bde53cb..c1474390 100755
--- a/src/common.cc
+++ b/src/common.cc
@@ -4,6 +4,20 @@
 
 #include "common.h"
 
+// Verify platform and compiler compatibility
+
+#ifdef _WIN64
+#error Windows 64-bit is currently unsupported - see https://github.com/lovell/sharp#windows
+#endif
+
+#if ((!defined(__clang__)) && defined(__GNUC__) && (__GNUC__ < 4 || (__GNUC__ == 4 && __GNUC_MINOR__ < 6)))
+#error GCC version 4.6+ is required for C++11 features - see https://github.com/lovell/sharp#prerequisites
+#endif
+
+#if (defined(__clang__) && !__has_feature(cxx_range_for))
+#error clang version 3.0+ is required for C++11 features - see https://github.com/lovell/sharp#prerequisites
+#endif
+
 namespace sharp {
 
   // How many tasks are in the queue?
diff --git a/src/sharp.cc b/src/sharp.cc
index b1fc6e81..bab73c9f 100755
--- a/src/sharp.cc
+++ b/src/sharp.cc
@@ -8,10 +8,6 @@
 #include "resize.h"
 #include "utilities.h"
 
-#ifdef _WIN64
-#error Windows 64-bit currently unsupported - see https://github.com/lovell/sharp#windows
-#endif
-
 extern "C" void init(v8::Handle<v8::Object> target) {
   NanScope();
   vips_init("sharp");