diff --git a/src/commands/removeUnversioned.ts b/src/commands/removeUnversioned.ts
index 7995d1d2..0c8f55a5 100644
--- a/src/commands/removeUnversioned.ts
+++ b/src/commands/removeUnversioned.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { Repository } from "../repository";
 import { Command } from "./command";
 import { window } from "vscode";
+import { VersionError } from "../svn";
 
 export class RemoveUnversioned extends Command {
   constructor() {
@@ -14,8 +15,19 @@ export class RemoveUnversioned extends Command {
       "Yes",
       "No"
     );
-    if (answer === "Yes") {
+    if (answer !== "Yes") {
+      return;
+    }
+    try {
       await repository.removeUnversioned();
+    } catch (e) {
+      if (e instanceof VersionError) {
+        window.showErrorMessage(
+          "Your svn is too old and does not support this feature"
+        );
+      } else {
+        throw e;
+      }
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/svn.ts b/src/svn.ts
index cbaf2bab..25357238 100644
--- a/src/svn.ts
+++ b/src/svn.ts
@@ -58,9 +58,22 @@ export function cpErrorHandler(
   };
 }
 
+export interface SvnVersion {
+  major: number;
+  minor: number;
+}
+
+export class VersionError extends Error {
+  // Ok to extend Error since we use ES6
+}
+
 export class Svn {
   private svnPath: string;
   private lastCwd: string = "";
+  private _version?: SvnVersion;
+  get version(): SvnVersion | undefined {
+    return this._version;
+  }
 
   private _onOutput = new EventEmitter();
   get onOutput(): EventEmitter {
@@ -69,6 +82,13 @@ export class Svn {
 
   constructor(options: ISvnOptions) {
     this.svnPath = options.svnPath;
+    const verMatch = /.*?(\d+)\.(\d+).*/.exec(options.version);
+    if (verMatch) {
+      this._version = {
+        major: parseInt(verMatch[0], 10),
+        minor: parseInt(verMatch[1], 10),
+      };
+    }
   }
 
   public logOutput(output: string): void {
diff --git a/src/svnRepository.ts b/src/svnRepository.ts
index e0a038c4..e0069d59 100644
--- a/src/svnRepository.ts
+++ b/src/svnRepository.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import { parseInfoXml } from "./infoParser";
 import { parseSvnList } from "./listParser";
 import { parseSvnLog } from "./logParser";
 import { parseStatusXml } from "./statusParser";
-import { Svn } from "./svn";
+import { Svn, VersionError } from "./svn";
 import {
   fixPathSeparator,
   fixPegRevision,
@@ -701,6 +701,10 @@ export class Repository {
   }
 
   public async removeUnversioned() {
+    const svnVersion = this.svn.version;
+    if (svnVersion && svnVersion.major == 1 && svnVersion.minor < 9 ) {
+      throw new VersionError();
+    }
     const result = await this.exec(["cleanup", "--remove-unversioned"]);
 
     this.svn.logOutput(result.stdout);
diff --git a/src/test/testUtil.ts b/src/test/testUtil.ts
index 867317cf..c6ee1277 100644
--- a/src/test/testUtil.ts
+++ b/src/test/testUtil.ts
@@ -185,10 +185,7 @@ export function activeExtension() {
     }
 
     if (!extension.isActive) {
-      extension.activate().then(
-        () => resolve(),
-        () => reject()
-      );
+      extension.activate().then(() => resolve(), () => reject());
     } else {
       resolve();
     }