diff --git a/hack/lib/golang.sh b/hack/lib/golang.sh
index 0379d4b08d..eb45223147 100755
--- a/hack/lib/golang.sh
+++ b/hack/lib/golang.sh
@@ -263,6 +263,33 @@ kube::golang::create_gopath_tree() {
   ln -s "${KUBE_ROOT}" "${go_pkg_dir}"
 }
 
+# Ensure the godep tool exists and is a viable version.
+kube::golang::verify_godep_version() {
+  local -a godep_version_string
+  local godep_version
+  local godep_min_version="63"
+
+  if ! which godep &>/dev/null; then
+    kube::log::usage_from_stdin <<EOF
+Can't find 'godep' in PATH, please fix and retry.
+See https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/blob/master/docs/devel/development.md#godep-and-dependency-management for installation instructions.
+EOF
+    return 2
+  fi
+
+  godep_version_string=($(godep version))
+  godep_version=${godep_version_string[1]/v/}
+  if ((godep_version<$godep_min_version)); then
+    kube::log::usage_from_stdin <<EOF
+Detected godep version: ${godep_version_string[*]}.
+Kubernetes requires godep v$godep_min_version or greater.
+Please update:
+go get -u github.com/tools/godep
+EOF
+    return 2
+  fi
+}
+
 # Ensure the go tool exists and is a viable version.
 kube::golang::verify_go_version() {
   if [[ -z "$(which go)" ]]; then
diff --git a/hack/verify-godeps.sh b/hack/verify-godeps.sh
index b94fc1955a..857765a757 100755
--- a/hack/verify-godeps.sh
+++ b/hack/verify-godeps.sh
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ preload-dep() {
 
 KUBE_ROOT=$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE}")/..
 source "${KUBE_ROOT}/hack/lib/init.sh"
+kube::golang::verify_godep_version
 
 readonly branch=${1:-${KUBE_VERIFY_GIT_BRANCH:-master}}
 if ! [[ ${KUBE_FORCE_VERIFY_CHECKS:-} =~ ^[yY]$ ]] && \