diff --git a/docs/reference/meson.build b/docs/reference/meson.build
index 35e5ce526..bdc22a0c3 100644
--- a/docs/reference/meson.build
+++ b/docs/reference/meson.build
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ gtkdoc_common_scan_args = [
 ]
 
 if get_option('gtk_doc')
+  if not meson.version().version_compare('>=0.52.0')
+    error('Building documentation requires Meson >= 0.52.0.')
+  endif
   # Check we have the minimum gtk-doc version required. Older versions won't
   # generate correct documentation.
   dependency('gtk-doc', version : '>=1.32')