diff --git a/README b/README
index 3efa341..60273c1 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ The following dependencies are required:
 
 The following dependencies are optional:
 
-* sqlite3 (>= 3.5.9): splite3 database backend
+* sqlite3 (>= 3.6.23): splite3 database backend
 * libmagic from file(1): for mime-type detection
 * libsynctex from TeXLive: SyncTeX support
 * libseccomp: sandbox support
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index ec7ecd9..b4372a8 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ flags = cc.get_supported_arguments(flags)
 
 # optional dependencies
 additional_sources = []
-sqlite = dependency('sqlite3', version: '>=3.5.9', required: get_option('sqlite'))
+sqlite = dependency('sqlite3', version: '>=3.6.23', required: get_option('sqlite'))
 synctex = dependency('synctex', required: get_option('synctex'))
 magic = cc.find_library('magic', required: get_option('magic'))
 seccomp = dependency('libseccomp', required: get_option('seccomp'))
diff --git a/zathura/database-sqlite.c b/zathura/database-sqlite.c
index 1b17acb..9fe4899 100644
--- a/zathura/database-sqlite.c
+++ b/zathura/database-sqlite.c
@@ -251,6 +251,13 @@ sqlite_db_check_layout(sqlite3* session, const int database_version, const bool
   if (new_db == true)
     return;
 
+#ifndef SQLITE_OMIT_COMPILEOPTION_DIAGS
+  if (sqlite3_compileoption_used("SQLITE_OMIT_ALTERTABLE") == 1) {
+    girara_error("sqlite3 built without support for ALTER, cannot update database");
+    return;
+  }
+#endif
+
   bool all_updates_ok = true;
   if (database_version < 1)
   {