diff --git a/resources/3rdparty/CMakeLists.txt b/resources/3rdparty/CMakeLists.txt
index 34e38bbf7..3a8a99435 100644
--- a/resources/3rdparty/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/resources/3rdparty/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -227,6 +227,10 @@ if(carl_FOUND AND NOT STORM_FORCE_SHIPPED_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+        message(FATAL_ERROR "Carl at ${carlLOCATION} outdated, require ${CARL_MINYEAR}.${CARL_MINMONTH}.${CARL_MINPATCH}, have ${carl_VERSION}")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         message(SEND_ERROR "Carl outdated, require ${CARL_MINYEAR}.${CARL_MINMONTH}.${CARL_MINPATCH}, have ${carl_VERSION}")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})