diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index fa92d05..0a52b0a 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -708,7 +708,7 @@
         # versions of BerkeleyDB already installed.
 
         max_db_ver = (4, 8)
-        min_db_ver = (3, 3)
+        min_db_ver = (4, 1)
         db_setup_debug = False   # verbose debug prints from this script?
 
         def allow_db_ver(db_ver):