diff --git a/resources/3rdparty/CMakeLists.txt b/resources/3rdparty/CMakeLists.txt
index 243c0b0e5..b4f200234 100644
--- a/resources/3rdparty/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/resources/3rdparty/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -215,6 +215,10 @@ if(USE_CARL)
         else()
             message(SEND_ERROR "File ${carlLOCATION} does not exist, did you build carl?")
         endif()
+        if("${carl_MINORYEARVERSION}" STREQUAL "" OR "${carl_MINORMONTHVERSION}" STREQUAL "" OR "${carl_MAINTENANCEVERSION}" STREQUAL "")
+            # don't have detailed version information, probably an old version of carl
+            message(FATAL_ERROR "Carl at ${carlLOCATION} outdated, require ${CARL_MINYEAR}.${CARL_MINMONTH}.${CARL_MINPATCH}, have ${carl_VERSION}")
+        endif()
         if(${carl_MINORYEARVERSION} LESS ${CARL_MINYEAR})
             message(SEND_ERROR "Carl outdated, require ${CARL_MINYEAR}.${CARL_MINMONTH}.${CARL_MINPATCH}, have ${carl_VERSION}")
         elseif(${carl_MINORYEARVERSION} EQUAL ${CARL_MINYEAR})