diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8f50de7e65..067eb7a3e9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ Essential dependencies (incomplete list):
   At least FFmpeg 2.1.4 or Libav 10 is required.
 - zlib
 - iconv (normally provided by the system libc)
-- libass
+- libass (OSD, OSC, text subtitles)
 - Lua (optional, required for the OSC pseudo-GUI and youtube-dl integration)
 - libjpeg (optional, used for screenshots only)
 - Enca (optional, for subtitle charset detection)
diff --git a/wscript b/wscript
index b613d57e95..d3b57701b1 100644
--- a/wscript
+++ b/wscript
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ iconv support use --disable-iconv.",
     }, {
         'name': '--libass',
         'desc': 'SSA/ASS support',
-        'func': check_pkg_config('libass'),
+        'func': check_pkg_config('libass', '>= 0.12.1'),
         'req': True,
         'fmsg': "Unable to find development files for libass. Aborting. \
 If you really mean to compile without libass support use --disable-libass."