diff --git a/mypy-strict.ini b/mypy-strict.ini
index 70952c149670..bcb4e4ace01d 100644
--- a/mypy-strict.ini
+++ b/mypy-strict.ini
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 
 [mypy]
 python_version = 3.6
+plugins = mypy_plugins/check_mypy_version.py
 
 cache_dir = .mypy_cache/strict
 strict_optional = True
diff --git a/mypy.ini b/mypy.ini
index ae1547b6c6e7..bbfecafe662a 100644
--- a/mypy.ini
+++ b/mypy.ini
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 # test_run_mypy in test/test_type_hints.py uses this string)
 
 [mypy]
+plugins = mypy_plugins/check_mypy_version.py
+
 cache_dir = .mypy_cache/normal
 warn_unused_configs = True
 warn_redundant_casts = True
diff --git a/mypy_plugins/check_mypy_version.py b/mypy_plugins/check_mypy_version.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..02a02a60b950
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mypy_plugins/check_mypy_version.py
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+import re
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from mypy.plugin import Plugin
+
+
+def get_correct_mypy_version():
+    # there's probably a more elegant way to do this
+    match, = re.finditer(
+        r'mypy==(\d+(?:\.\d+)*)',
+        Path('.circleci/docker/common/install_conda.sh').read_text(),
+    )
+    version, = match.groups()
+    return version
+
+
+def plugin(version: str):
+    correct_version = get_correct_mypy_version()
+    if version != correct_version:
+        print(f'''\
+You are using mypy version {version}, which is not supported
+in the PyTorch repo. Please switch to mypy version {correct_version}.
+
+For example, if you installed mypy via pip, run this:
+
+    pip install mypy=={correct_version}
+
+Or if you installed mypy via conda, run this:
+
+    conda install -c conda-forge mypy={correct_version}
+''', file=sys.stderr)
+    return Plugin