diff --git a/contrib/zmq/zmq_sub.py b/contrib/zmq/zmq_sub.py
index 60768dc59..fa9e66930 100644
--- a/contrib/zmq/zmq_sub.py
+++ b/contrib/zmq/zmq_sub.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ import signal
 import struct
 import sys
 
-if not (sys.version_info.major >= 3 and sys.version_info.minor >= 5):
+if (sys.version_info.major, sys.version_info.minor) < (3, 5):
     print("This example only works with Python 3.5 and greater")
     sys.exit(1)
 
diff --git a/contrib/zmq/zmq_sub3.4.py b/contrib/zmq/zmq_sub3.4.py
index 0df843c9a..d05ecc262 100644
--- a/contrib/zmq/zmq_sub3.4.py
+++ b/contrib/zmq/zmq_sub3.4.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ import signal
 import struct
 import sys
 
-if not (sys.version_info.major >= 3 and sys.version_info.minor >= 4):
+if (sys.version_info.major, sys.version_info.minor) < (3, 4):
     print("This example only works with Python 3.4 and greater")
     sys.exit(1)