diff --git a/pymongo/common.py b/pymongo/common.py
index b8d2b0176..e2f4241eb 100644
--- a/pymongo/common.py
+++ b/pymongo/common.py
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ MAX_WIRE_VERSION = 0
 MAX_WRITE_BATCH_SIZE = 1000
 
 # What this version of PyMongo supports.
+MIN_SUPPORTED_SERVER_VERSION = "2.6"
 MIN_SUPPORTED_WIRE_VERSION = 2
 MAX_SUPPORTED_WIRE_VERSION = 5
 
diff --git a/pymongo/topology_description.py b/pymongo/topology_description.py
index 49d2b195d..6ba04971b 100644
--- a/pymongo/topology_description.py
+++ b/pymongo/topology_description.py
@@ -76,15 +76,21 @@ class TopologyDescription(object):
                 s.max_wire_version is not None
                 and s.max_wire_version < common.MIN_SUPPORTED_WIRE_VERSION)
 
-            if server_too_new or server_too_old:
+            if server_too_new:
                 self._incompatible_err = (
-                    "Server at %s:%d "
-                    "uses wire protocol versions %d through %d, "
-                    "but PyMongo only supports %d through %d"
+                    "Server at %s:%d requires wire version %d, but this "
+                    "version of PyMongo only supports up to %d."
                     % (s.address[0], s.address[1],
-                       s.min_wire_version, s.max_wire_version,
+                       s.min_wire_version, common.MAX_SUPPORTED_WIRE_VERSION))
+
+            elif server_too_old:
+                self._incompatible_err = (
+                    "Server at %s:%d reports wire version %d, but this "
+                    "version of PyMongo requires at least %d (MongoDB %s)."
+                    % (s.address[0], s.address[1],
+                       s.max_wire_version,
                        common.MIN_SUPPORTED_WIRE_VERSION,
-                       common.MAX_SUPPORTED_WIRE_VERSION))
+                       common.MIN_SUPPORTED_SERVER_VERSION))
 
                 break
 
diff --git a/test/test_topology.py b/test/test_topology.py
index 4dd19a8ea..5a4697f41 100644
--- a/test/test_topology.py
+++ b/test/test_topology.py
@@ -567,8 +567,33 @@ class TestMultiServerTopology(TopologyTest):
             t.select_servers(any_server_selector)
         except ConfigurationError as e:
             # Error message should say which server failed and why.
-            self.assertTrue('a:27017' in str(e))
-            self.assertTrue('wire protocol versions 11 through 12' in str(e))
+            self.assertEqual(
+                str(e),
+                "Server at a:27017 requires wire version 11, but this version "
+                "of PyMongo only supports up to %d."
+                % (common.MAX_SUPPORTED_WIRE_VERSION,))
+        else:
+            self.fail('No error with incompatible wire version')
+
+        # Incompatible.
+        got_ismaster(t, address, {
+            'ok': 1,
+            'ismaster': True,
+            'setName': 'rs',
+            'hosts': ['a'],
+            'minWireVersion': 0,
+            'maxWireVersion': 0})
+
+        try:
+            t.select_servers(any_server_selector)
+        except ConfigurationError as e:
+            # Error message should say which server failed and why.
+            self.assertEqual(
+                str(e),
+                "Server at a:27017 reports wire version 0, but this version "
+                "of PyMongo requires at least %d (MongoDB %s)."
+                % (common.MIN_SUPPORTED_WIRE_VERSION,
+                   common.MIN_SUPPORTED_SERVER_VERSION))
         else:
             self.fail('No error with incompatible wire version')