diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index bc3f52b..8b5d2b1 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+## to be released
+
+- require PCRE>=7.3, the first that correctly checks UTF-8 validity
+
 ## v1.1.17 (2014-01-02)
 
 - enable Travis CI and SensioLabsInsight
diff --git a/composer.json b/composer.json
index 97d0b85..2d8efa3 100644
--- a/composer.json
+++ b/composer.json
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
     ],
     "require": {
         "php": ">=5.3.0",
-        "lib-pcre": ">=7.9"
+        "lib-pcre": ">=7.3"
     },
     "suggest": {
         "ext-intl": "Use Intl for best performance",