diff --git a/zone/main.cpp b/zone/main.cpp
index a05af774a4..2e089394ec 100644
--- a/zone/main.cpp
+++ b/zone/main.cpp
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ void CatchSignal(int sig_num);
 
 extern void MapOpcodes();
 
+bool CheckForCompatibleQuestPlugins();
 int main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
 	RegisterExecutablePlatform(ExePlatformZone);
@@ -367,6 +368,11 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		return 1;
 	}
 
+	if (!CheckForCompatibleQuestPlugins()) {
+		LogError("Incompatible quest plugins detected, please update your plugins to the latest version");
+		return 1;
+	}
+
 	// load these here for now until spells and items can be truly repointed to "content_db"
 	database.SetSharedItemsCount(content_db.GetItemsCount());
 	database.SetSharedSpellsCount(content_db.GetSpellsCount());
@@ -705,3 +711,25 @@ void UpdateWindowTitle(char *iNewTitle)
 	SetConsoleTitle(tmp);
 #endif
 }
+
+bool CheckForCompatibleQuestPlugins()
+{
+	std::vector<std::string> files = {
+		"quests/plugins/check_handin.pl",
+		"lua_modules/items.lua",
+	};
+
+	bool found = true;
+	for (const auto &file : files) {
+		auto f = path.GetServerPath() + "/" + file;
+		if (File::Exists(f)) {
+			auto r = File::GetContents(std::filesystem::path{f}.string());
+			if (!Strings::Contains(r.contents, "CheckHandin")) {
+				found = false; 
+				break;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	return found;
+}