diff --git a/kafka/admin/kafka.py b/kafka/admin/kafka.py
index d4ae815a4..e78bdbfa7 100644
--- a/kafka/admin/kafka.py
+++ b/kafka/admin/kafka.py
@@ -189,10 +189,6 @@ def __init__(self, **configs):
         if self.config['api_version'] is None:
             self.config['api_version'] = self._client.config['api_version']
 
-        if self.config['api_version'] < (0, 10, 0):
-            raise UnsupportedVersionError(
-                "Kafka Admin interface not supported for cluster version {} < 0.10.0.0"
-                    .format(self.config['api_version']))
         self._closed = False
         self._refresh_controller_id()
         log.debug('Kafka administration interface started')
@@ -241,6 +237,11 @@ def _refresh_controller_id(self):
             MetadataRequest[1]([])
         )
         self._controller_id = response.controller_id
+        version = self._client.check_version(self._controller_id)
+        if version < (0, 10, 0):
+            raise UnsupportedVersionError(
+                "Kafka Admin interface not supported for cluster controller version {} < 0.10.0.0"
+                    .format(version))
 
     def _send_request_to_node(self, node, request):
         """Send a kafka protocol message to a specific broker.  Will block until the message result is received.