diff --git a/bin/gem b/bin/gem
index c2b85f6dd3..adf5939a92 100755
--- a/bin/gem
+++ b/bin/gem
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+
 #!/usr/bin/env ruby
 #--
 # Copyright 2006 by Chad Fowler, Rich Kilmer, Jim Weirich and others.
@@ -9,12 +10,6 @@ require 'rubygems'
 require 'rubygems/gem_runner'
 require 'rubygems/exceptions'
 
-required_version = Gem::Requirement.new ">= 1.8.7"
-
-unless required_version.satisfied_by? Gem.ruby_version
-  abort "Expected Ruby version #{required_version}, is #{Gem.ruby_version}"
-end
-
 args = ARGV.clone
 
 begin