diff --git a/ConfigureChecks.cmake b/ConfigureChecks.cmake
index 20de3d0..c432698 100644
--- a/ConfigureChecks.cmake
+++ b/ConfigureChecks.cmake
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ endif( WITH_GCC_VISIBILITY )
 
 ##### check for sword library
 
-pkg_search_module( SWORD sword )
+pkg_search_module( SWORD sword>=1.7 )
 if( NOT SWORD_FOUND )
   tde_message_fatal( "sword library is required but not found on your system" )
 endif()