diff --git a/src/main/java/org/qortal/network/Handshake.java b/src/main/java/org/qortal/network/Handshake.java
index ed6d02db..8bee63a2 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/qortal/network/Handshake.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/qortal/network/Handshake.java
@@ -71,6 +71,15 @@ public enum Handshake {
 			peer.setPeersConnectionTimestamp(peersConnectionTimestamp);
 			peer.setPeersVersion(versionString, version);
 
+			if (Settings.getInstance().getAllowConnectionsWithOlderPeerVersions() == false) {
+				// Ensure the peer is running at least the minimum version allowed for connections
+				final String minPeerVersion = Settings.getInstance().getMinPeerVersion();
+				if (peer.isAtLeastVersion(minPeerVersion) == false) {
+					LOGGER.info(String.format("Ignoring peer %s because it is on an old version (%s)", peer, versionString));
+					return null;
+				}
+			}
+
 			return CHALLENGE;
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/qortal/settings/Settings.java b/src/main/java/org/qortal/settings/Settings.java
index f94db927..164223c9 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/qortal/settings/Settings.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/qortal/settings/Settings.java
@@ -124,8 +124,13 @@ public class Settings {
 	private int networkPoWComputePoolSize = 2;
 	/** Maximum number of retry attempts if a peer fails to respond with the requested data */
 	private int maxRetries = 2;
+
 	/** Minimum peer version number required in order to sync with them */
 	private String minPeerVersion = "1.5.0";
+	/** Whether to allow connections with peers below minPeerVersion
+	 * If true, we won't sync with them but they can still sync with us, and will show in the peers list
+	 * If false, sync will be blocked both ways, and they will not appear in the peers list */
+	private boolean allowConnectionsWithOlderPeerVersions = true;
 
 	// Which blockchains this node is running
 	private String blockchainConfig = null; // use default from resources
@@ -416,6 +421,8 @@ public class Settings {
 
 	public String getMinPeerVersion() { return this.minPeerVersion; }
 
+	public boolean getAllowConnectionsWithOlderPeerVersions() { return this.allowConnectionsWithOlderPeerVersions; }
+
 	public String getBlockchainConfig() {
 		return this.blockchainConfig;
 	}