diff --git a/lib/private/util.php b/lib/private/util.php
index edd375b5c3..47e42d8b7d 100644
--- a/lib/private/util.php
+++ b/lib/private/util.php
@@ -1448,8 +1448,12 @@ class OC_Util {
 		if ($config->getSystemValue('installed', false)) {
 			$installedVersion = $config->getSystemValue('version', '0.0.0');
 			$currentVersion = implode('.', OC_Util::getVersion());
-			if (version_compare($currentVersion, $installedVersion, '>')) {
+			$versionDiff = version_compare($currentVersion, $installedVersion);
+			if ($versionDiff > 0) {
 				return true;
+			} else if ($versionDiff < 0) {
+				// downgrade attempt, throw exception
+				throw new \OC\HintException('Downgrading is not supported and is likely to cause unpredictable issues (from ' . $installedVersion . ' to ' . $currentVersion . ')');
 			}
 
 			// also check for upgrades for apps (independently from the user)