diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 80967101..debfb5b0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ initCppSpm
 ```
 
 Please see our
-[documentation](https://cpp_spm.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html) for
-more detailed instructions.
+[documentation](https://cpp_spm.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html) for more
+detailed instructions.
 
 ### Dependencies
 
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ For instructions see the following links:
 | ---------------------------------------------------------- | ------------ |
 | [Matlab](https://www.mathworks.com/products/matlab.html)   | 20???        |
 | or [octave](https://www.gnu.org/software/octave/)          | 4.?          |
-| [SPM12](https://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/spm/software/spm12/) | v7487        |
+| [SPM12](https://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/spm/software/spm12/) | >7219        |
 
 <!-- lint enable -->
 
@@ -109,8 +109,8 @@ This can perform:
 The core functions are in the `src` folder.
 
 Please see our
-[documentation](https://cpp_spm.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html) for
-more info.
+[documentation](https://cpp_spm.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html) for more
+info.
 
 ## Octave compatibility
 
@@ -148,12 +148,14 @@ Constant are written in `UPPERCASE`.
 There is a [pre-commit hook](https://pre-commit.com/) that you can use to
 reformat files as you commit them.
 
-Install pre-commit by using our `requirements.txt` file 
+Install pre-commit by using our `requirements.txt` file
+
 ```bash
 pip install -r requirements.txt
 ```
 
 Install the hook
+
 ```bash
 pre-commit install
 ```
diff --git a/src/utils/checkDependencies.m b/src/utils/checkDependencies.m
index dfb09d5b..cca7e2cb 100644
--- a/src/utils/checkDependencies.m
+++ b/src/utils/checkDependencies.m
@@ -13,22 +13,24 @@ function checkDependencies()
   fprintf('Checking dependencies\n');
 
   SPM_main = 'SPM12';
-  SPM_sub = '7487';
+  SPM_sub = 7219;
 
   %% check spm version
   try
     [a, b] = spm('ver');
-    fprintf(' Using %s %s\n', a, b);
-    if any(~[strcmp(a, SPM_main) strcmp(b, SPM_sub)])
-      str = sprintf('%s %s %s.\n%s', ...
-                    'The current version SPM version is not', SPM_main, SPM_sub, ...
-                    'In case of problems (e.g json file related) consider updating.');
-      warning(str); %#ok<*SPWRN>
-    end
   catch
     error('Failed to check the SPM version: Are you sure that SPM is in the matlab path?');
   end
 
+  fprintf(' Using %s %s\n', a, b);
+
+  if ~strcmp(a, SPM_main) || str2num(b) < 7219
+    str = sprintf('%s %s %s.\n%s', ...
+                  'The current version SPM version is less than', SPM_main, SPM_sub, ...
+                  'Update with: spm_update update');
+    warning(str); %#ok<*SPWRN>
+  end
+
   spm('defaults', 'fmri');
 
   %% Check the Nifti tools are indeed there.