diff --git a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup.sh b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup.sh
index a73474c952e5..066ef6ed9eb3 100644
--- a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup.sh
+++ b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 set -eu
 set -o pipefail
 
+if [ -n "${BASH_VERSINFO-}" ] && [ "${BASH_VERSINFO-}" -lt 4 ]; then
+    echo "Detected Bash version that isn't supported by Nixpkgs (${BASH_VERSION})"
+    echo "Please install Bash 4 or greater to continue."
+    exit 1
+fi
+
 if (( "${NIX_DEBUG:-0}" >= 6 )); then
     set -x
 fi