diff --git a/include/SDL_bits.h b/include/SDL_bits.h
index 4b35a77cf..d678b7822 100644
--- a/include/SDL_bits.h
+++ b/include/SDL_bits.h
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ extern "C" {
 SDL_FORCE_INLINE Sint8
 SDL_MostSignificantBitIndex32(Uint32 x)
 {
-#if defined(__GNUC__)
+#if defined(__GNUC__) && __GNUC__ >= 4
     /* Count Leading Zeroes builtin in GCC.
      * http://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc-4.3.4/gcc/Other-Builtins.html
      */