diff --git a/build/pkgs/giac/spkg-configure.m4 b/build/pkgs/giac/spkg-configure.m4
index d6c1d094198..5859e35f12e 100644
--- a/build/pkgs/giac/spkg-configure.m4
+++ b/build/pkgs/giac/spkg-configure.m4
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 SAGE_SPKG_CONFIGURE([giac], [
     SAGE_SPKG_DEPCHECK([pari], [
        dnl giac does not seem to reveal its patchlevel
-       m4_pushdef([GIAC_MIN_VERSION], [1.5.0])
+       m4_pushdef([GIAC_MIN_VERSION], [1.9.0])
        m4_pushdef([GIAC_MAX_VERSION], [1.9.999])
        AC_CACHE_CHECK([for giac >= ]GIAC_MIN_VERSION[, <= ]GIAC_MAX_VERSION, [ac_cv_path_GIAC], [
          AC_PATH_PROGS_FEATURE_CHECK([GIAC], [giac], [