diff --git a/init.el b/init.el
index eb3dc605e..11202730e 100644
--- a/init.el
+++ b/init.el
@@ -17,17 +17,16 @@
 (defconst spacemacs-version          "0.105.0" "Spacemacs version.")
 (defconst spacemacs-emacs-min-version   "24.3" "Minimal version of Emacs.")
 
-(defun spacemacs/emacs-version-ok ()
-  (version<= spacemacs-emacs-min-version emacs-version))
-
-(if (spacemacs/emacs-version-ok)(progn
-                                 (load-file (concat user-emacs-directory "core/core-load-paths.el"))
-                                 (when init-file-debug (require 'core-debug))
-                                 (require 'core-spacemacs)
-                                 (spacemacs/init)
-                                 (spacemacs/maybe-install-dotfile)
-                                 (configuration-layer/sync)
-                                 (spacemacs/setup-startup-hook)
-                                 (require 'server)
-                                 (unless (server-running-p) (server-start)))
-  (message "Emacs too old! Spacemacs version %d requires Emacs version %d" spacemacs-emacs-min-version spacemacs-emacs-min-version))
+(if (not (version<= spacemacs-emacs-min-version emacs-version))
+    (message (concat "Your version of Emacs (%s) is too old. "
+                     "Spacemacs requires Emacs version %d or above.")
+             emacs-version spacemacs-emacs-min-version)
+  (load-file (concat user-emacs-directory "core/core-load-paths.el"))
+  (when init-file-debug (require 'core-debug))
+  (require 'core-spacemacs)
+  (spacemacs/init)
+  (spacemacs/maybe-install-dotfile)
+  (configuration-layer/sync)
+  (spacemacs/setup-startup-hook)
+  (require 'server)
+  (unless (server-running-p) (server-start)))