diff --git a/pyeclib/ec_iface.py b/pyeclib/ec_iface.py
index 1b429cf..1830744 100644
--- a/pyeclib/ec_iface.py
+++ b/pyeclib/ec_iface.py
@@ -28,6 +28,12 @@ from .utils import create_instance
 from .utils import positive_int_value
 from pyeclib_c import get_liberasurecode_version
 
+import logging
+from logging.handlers import SysLogHandler
+logger = logging.getLogger('pyeclib')
+syslog_handler = SysLogHandler()
+logger.addHandler(syslog_handler)
+
 
 def check_backend_available(backend_name):
     try:
@@ -527,6 +533,18 @@ def _liberasurecode_version():
     minor = str(int(version_hex_str[-4:-2]))
     rev = str(int(version_hex_str[-2:]))
     version_str = '.'.join([major, minor, rev])
+
+    # liberasurecode < 1.3.1 should be incompatible but
+    # just warn until packagers build the required version
+    # See https://bugs.launchpad.net/swift/+bug/1639691 in detail
+    required_version = ((1 << 16) + (3 << 8) + 1)
+    if version_int < required_version:
+        logger.warning(
+            'DEPRECATED WARNING: your liberasurecode '
+            '%s will be deprecated in the near future because of the issue '
+            'https://bugs.launchpad.net/swift/+bug/1639691; '
+            'Please upgrade to >=1.3.1 and rebuild pyeclib to suppress '
+            'this message' % version_str)
     return version_str
 
 LIBERASURECODE_VERSION = _liberasurecode_version()