diff --git a/R/bistro.R b/R/bistro.R
index ee4d91a..a5d876b 100644
--- a/R/bistro.R
+++ b/R/bistro.R
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ bistro <-
            seed = 1,
            time_limit = 3,
            return_lrs = FALSE) {
+    check_pkg_version('tidyr', utils::packageVersion('tidyr'), '1.3.0')
     check_bistro_inputs(
       bloodmeal_profiles,
       human_profiles,
diff --git a/R/identify_matches.R b/R/identify_matches.R
index d60f4b7..6d0883a 100644
--- a/R/identify_matches.R
+++ b/R/identify_matches.R
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #' @inheritParams calc_one_log10_lr
 #' @keywords internal
 identify_one_match_set <- function(log10_lrs, bloodmeal_id) {
+  check_pkg_version('tidyr', utils::packageVersion('tidyr'), '1.3.0')
   bm_id <- bloodmeal_id
   log10_lrs <- log10_lrs |>
     dplyr::filter(bloodmeal_id == bm_id)
diff --git a/R/utils.R b/R/utils.R
index 89441c2..5634e02 100644
--- a/R/utils.R
+++ b/R/utils.R
@@ -40,3 +40,17 @@ utils::globalVariables(
 ignore_unused_imports <- function() {
   codetools::checkUsage
 }
+
+#' Check package version
+#'
+#' @param pkg package to test
+#' @param curr_version current package version
+#' @param version required package version
+#'
+#' @return nothing or error if package version too old
+check_pkg_version <- function(pkg, curr_version, version){
+  vers <- utils::compareVersion(as.character(curr_version), version)
+  if(vers == -1){
+    stop("The ", pkg, " package is version ", curr_version, " but must be >= ", version, ". Please update the package to use this function.")
+  }
+}
diff --git a/man/check_pkg_version.Rd b/man/check_pkg_version.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d9d4bda
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/check_pkg_version.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/utils.R
+\name{check_pkg_version}
+\alias{check_pkg_version}
+\title{Check package version}
+\usage{
+check_pkg_version(pkg, curr_version, version)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{pkg}{package to test}
+
+\item{curr_version}{current package version}
+
+\item{version}{required package version}
+}
+\value{
+nothing or error if package version too old
+}
+\description{
+Check package version
+}
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-utils.R b/tests/testthat/test-utils.R
index da50b77..0b32299 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-utils.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-utils.R
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
 test_that("ignore_unused_imports works", {
   expect_no_error(ignore_unused_imports())
 })
+
+test_that("check_pkg_version works", {
+  expect_no_error(check_pkg_version('tidyr', '1.1.2', '1.1.1'))
+  expect_no_error(check_pkg_version('tidyr', '1.1.1', '1.1.1'))
+  expect_error(check_pkg_version('tidyr', '1.1.1', '1.1.2'),
+               "The tidyr package is version 1.1.1 but must be >= 1.1.2. Please update the package to use this function.")
+})