diff --git a/bash_it.sh b/bash_it.sh
index 19a26ed965..ae98c1fcb4 100755
--- a/bash_it.sh
+++ b/bash_it.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,14 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 # shellcheck source-path=SCRIPTDIR/lib source-path=SCRIPTDIR/scripts
 # shellcheck disable=SC2034
-#
+
+# Requires bash 3.2+ to install and run
+# Skip loading if bash version is too old
+if [[ "${BASH_VERSINFO[0]-}" -lt 3 ]] || [[ "${BASH_VERSINFO[0]-}" -eq 3 && "${BASH_VERSINFO[1]}" -lt 2 ]]; then
+	echo "sorry, but the minimum version of BASH supported by bash_it is 3.2, consider upgrading?" >&2
+	return 1
+fi
+
 # Initialize Bash It
 BASH_IT_LOG_PREFIX="core: main: "
 : "${BASH_IT:=${BASH_SOURCE%/*}}"
diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index a99993e4ef..2732b10aa2 100755
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,13 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 # bash-it installer
 
+# Requires bash 3.2+ to install and run
+# Skip loading if bash version is too old
+if [[ "${BASH_VERSINFO[0]-}" -lt 3 ]] || [[ "${BASH_VERSINFO[0]-}" -eq 3 && "${BASH_VERSINFO[1]}" -lt 2 ]]; then
+	echo "sorry, but the minimum version of BASH supported by bash_it is 3.2, consider upgrading?" >&2
+	return 1
+fi
+
 # Show how to use this installer
 function _bash-it-install-help() {
 	echo -e "\n$0 : Install bash-it"
diff --git a/plugins/available/history-eternal.plugin.bash b/plugins/available/history-eternal.plugin.bash
index 26bea839e4..3b95cac606 100644
--- a/plugins/available/history-eternal.plugin.bash
+++ b/plugins/available/history-eternal.plugin.bash
@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@ about-plugin 'eternal bash history'
 
 if [[ ${BASH_VERSINFO[0]} -lt 4 ]] || [[ ${BASH_VERSINFO[0]} -eq 4 && ${BASH_VERSINFO[1]} -lt 3 ]]; then
 	_log_warning "Bash version 4.3 introduced the 'unlimited' history size capability."
-	return 1
+	_log_warning "Disabling history-eternal plugin (current version: $BASH_VERSION)"
+	_disable-plugin history-eternal
+	return 0
 fi
 
 # Modify history sizes before changing location to avoid unintentionally
diff --git a/plugins/available/pack.plugin.bash b/plugins/available/pack.plugin.bash
index 13b72c00e7..85d119186b 100644
--- a/plugins/available/pack.plugin.bash
+++ b/plugins/available/pack.plugin.bash
@@ -1,6 +1,13 @@
 # shellcheck shell=bash
 # bash completion for pack                                 -*- shell-script -*-
 
+# Requires bash 4+ for associative arrays
+# Skip loading if bash version is too old
+if [[ "${BASH_VERSINFO[0]}" -lt 4 ]]; then
+	_disable-plugin pack
+	return 0
+fi
+
 cite about-plugin
 about-plugin 'CNB pack cli aliases'
 
diff --git a/plugins/available/percol.plugin.bash b/plugins/available/percol.plugin.bash
index 027dfdc4af..b873aede6e 100644
--- a/plugins/available/percol.plugin.bash
+++ b/plugins/available/percol.plugin.bash
@@ -17,8 +17,9 @@ _command_exists percol || return
 
 if [[ ${BASH_VERSINFO[0]} -lt 4 ]]; then
 	_log_warning "You have to upgrade Bash to Bash v4.x to use the 'percol' plugin."
-	_log_warning "Your current Bash version is $BASH_VERSION."
-	return
+	_log_warning "Disabling percol plugin (current version: $BASH_VERSION)"
+	_disable-plugin percol
+	return 0
 fi
 
 function _replace_by_history() {