diff --git a/eslint.config.mjs b/eslint.config.mjs
index 9f5ed2a..1b139fe 100644
--- a/eslint.config.mjs
+++ b/eslint.config.mjs
@@ -41,5 +41,5 @@ export default defineConfig([
       '@typescript-eslint/no-non-null-assertion': 0,
     },
   },
-  globalIgnores(['src/check-watch-panel', 'out']),
+  globalIgnores(['src/check-watch-panel', 'out', '.vscode-test', 'build']),
 ]);
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index dc6ed8e..660eaba 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@
     "@trivago/prettier-plugin-sort-imports": "^6.0.0",
     "@types/mocha": "^10.0.10",
     "@types/node": "24.10.1",
+    "@types/semver": "^7.7.1",
     "@types/vscode": "^1.106.1",
     "@typescript-eslint/eslint-plugin": "^8.48.1",
     "@typescript-eslint/parser": "^8.48.1",
@@ -143,6 +144,7 @@
     "@types/parsimmon": "^1.10.9",
     "command-exists": "^1.2.9",
     "parsimmon": "^1.18.1",
+    "semver": "^7.7.4",
     "vscode-languageclient": "^9.0.1"
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/binary.ts b/src/binary.ts
index 72a88a3..3b143c9 100644
--- a/src/binary.ts
+++ b/src/binary.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,14 @@
 import * as vscode from 'vscode';
 
+import { execFile } from 'child_process';
 import commandExists from 'command-exists';
 import * as fs from 'fs';
+import * as semver from 'semver';
+import { promisify } from 'util';
+
+const execFileAsync = promisify(execFile);
+
+export const MIN_SPICEDB_VERSION = '1.51.1';
 
 export async function languageServerBinaryPath(_context: vscode.ExtensionContext): Promise<string | undefined> {
   const config = vscode.workspace.getConfiguration('spicedb');
@@ -22,7 +29,7 @@ export async function languageServerBinaryPath(_context: vscode.ExtensionContext
 }
 
 const INSTALL_COMMANDS = {
-  darwin: 'brew install spicedb',
+  darwin: 'brew install authzed/tap/spicedb',
   linux: '',
   win32: 'choco install spicedb',
   aix: '',
@@ -39,3 +46,42 @@ export function getInstallCommand() {
   const platform = process.platform;
   return INSTALL_COMMANDS[platform] || 'https://authzed.com/docs/spicedb/getting-started/install/macos';
 }
+
+export async function getSpicedbVersion(binaryPath: string): Promise<string> {
+  try {
+    const { stdout } = await execFileAsync(binaryPath, ['version']);
+    const match = stdout.match(/v?(\d+\.\d+\.\d+)/);
+    return match?.[1] ?? '';
+  } catch (_e) {
+    return '';
+  }
+}
+
+export function checkSpicedbVersion(binaryPath: string): void {
+  void getSpicedbVersion(binaryPath).then((version) => {
+    if (!version || !semver.lt(version, MIN_SPICEDB_VERSION)) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const installCommand = getInstallCommand();
+    const message = `Installed version of SpiceDB (v${version}) is less than the required (v${MIN_SPICEDB_VERSION}). Please upgrade for full extension support.`;
+
+    if (installCommand.startsWith('https://')) {
+      const OpenInstructions = 'Open Upgrade Instructions';
+      vscode.window.showWarningMessage(message, OpenInstructions).then((selection) => {
+        if (selection === OpenInstructions) {
+          vscode.env.openExternal(vscode.Uri.parse(installCommand));
+        }
+      });
+    } else {
+      const Upgrade = 'Run Upgrade Command';
+      vscode.window.showWarningMessage(`${message} You can upgrade with \`${installCommand}\`.`, Upgrade).then((selection) => {
+        if (selection === Upgrade) {
+          const terminal = vscode.window.createTerminal('SpiceDB Upgrade');
+          terminal.sendText(installCommand);
+          terminal.show();
+        }
+      });
+    }
+  });
+}
diff --git a/src/extension.ts b/src/extension.ts
index a3e5bf0..707d491 100644
--- a/src/extension.ts
+++ b/src/extension.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { LanguageClient, LanguageClientOptions, ServerOptions, TransportKind } f
 
 import { type ResolvedReference, Resolver, parse } from '@authzed/spicedb-parser-js';
 
-import { getInstallCommand, languageServerBinaryPath } from './binary';
+import { checkSpicedbVersion, getInstallCommand, languageServerBinaryPath } from './binary';
 import { CheckWatchProvider } from './checkwatchprovider';
 
 export function activate(context: vscode.ExtensionContext) {
@@ -183,6 +183,8 @@ async function startLanguageServer(context: vscode.ExtensionContext) {
     return;
   }
 
+  checkSpicedbVersion(serverBinary);
+
   const serverOptions: ServerOptions = {
     run: {
       command: serverBinary,
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index 86db6d4..efaf8d5 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -612,6 +612,11 @@
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@types/sarif/-/sarif-2.1.7.tgz#dab4d16ba7568e9846c454a8764f33c5d98e5524"
   integrity sha512-kRz0VEkJqWLf1LLVN4pT1cg1Z9wAuvI6L97V3m2f5B76Tg8d413ddvLBPTEHAZJlnn4XSvu0FkZtViCQGVyrXQ==
 
+"@types/semver@^7.7.1":
+  version "7.7.1"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@types/semver/-/semver-7.7.1.tgz#3ce3af1a5524ef327d2da9e4fd8b6d95c8d70528"
+  integrity sha512-FmgJfu+MOcQ370SD0ev7EI8TlCAfKYU+B4m5T3yXc1CiRN94g/SZPtsCkk506aUDtlMnFZvasDwHHUcZUEaYuA==
+
 "@types/vscode@^1.106.1":
   version "1.106.1"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@types/vscode/-/vscode-1.106.1.tgz#c8c9591b4b9debd8cf67b46d5e5ef54bdec9b805"
@@ -2939,6 +2944,11 @@ semver@^7.3.5, semver@^7.3.7, semver@^7.5.2, semver@^7.5.3, semver@^7.5.4, semve
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/semver/-/semver-7.6.3.tgz#980f7b5550bc175fb4dc09403085627f9eb33143"
   integrity sha512-oVekP1cKtI+CTDvHWYFUcMtsK/00wmAEfyqKfNdARm8u1wNVhSgaX7A8d4UuIlUI5e84iEwOhs7ZPYRmzU9U6A==
 
+semver@^7.7.4:
+  version "7.7.4"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/semver/-/semver-7.7.4.tgz#28464e36060e991fa7a11d0279d2d3f3b57a7e8a"
+  integrity sha512-vFKC2IEtQnVhpT78h1Yp8wzwrf8CM+MzKMHGJZfBtzhZNycRFnXsHk6E5TxIkkMsgNS7mdX3AGB7x2QM2di4lA==
+
 serialize-javascript@^6.0.2:
   version "6.0.2"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/serialize-javascript/-/serialize-javascript-6.0.2.tgz#defa1e055c83bf6d59ea805d8da862254eb6a6c2"