diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7b5a86ef..26d82bcd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ The installer will:
 ### Manual Install
 
 ```bash
-# Using go install (requires Go 1.21+)
+# Using go install (requires Go 1.23+)
 go install github.com/steveyegge/beads/cmd/bd@latest
 
 # Or build from source
diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index 277cf2a1..0f3486a3 100755
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -62,10 +62,27 @@ detect_platform() {
     echo "${os}-${arch}"
 }
 
-# Check if Go is installed
+# Check if Go is installed and meets minimum version
 check_go() {
     if command -v go &> /dev/null; then
+        local go_version=$(go version | awk '{print $3}' | sed 's/go//')
         log_info "Go detected: $(go version)"
+
+        # Extract major and minor version numbers
+        local major=$(echo "$go_version" | cut -d. -f1)
+        local minor=$(echo "$go_version" | cut -d. -f2)
+
+        # Check if Go version is 1.23 or later
+        if [ "$major" -eq 1 ] && [ "$minor" -lt 23 ]; then
+            log_error "Go 1.23 or later is required (found: $go_version)"
+            echo ""
+            echo "Please upgrade Go:"
+            echo "  - Download from https://go.dev/dl/"
+            echo "  - Or use your package manager to update"
+            echo ""
+            return 1
+        fi
+
         return 0
     else
         return 1
@@ -158,7 +175,7 @@ build_from_source() {
 offer_go_installation() {
     log_warning "Go is not installed"
     echo ""
-    echo "bd requires Go 1.21 or later. You can:"
+    echo "bd requires Go 1.23 or later. You can:"
     echo "  1. Install Go from https://go.dev/dl/"
     echo "  2. Use your package manager:"
     echo "     - macOS: brew install go"