diff --git a/development/scons/SConstruct b/development/scons/SConstruct
index 2d0cdbc707..aef0f80a1a 100644
--- a/development/scons/SConstruct
+++ b/development/scons/SConstruct
@@ -42,16 +42,8 @@ from scons_manifest import *
 
 # scons asks for 1.5.2, lyx requires 2.3
 EnsurePythonVersion(2, 3)
-# Please use at least 0.96.92 (not 0.96.1)
-EnsureSConsVersion(0, 96)
-# also check for minor version number for scons 0.96
-from SCons import __version__
-__version__ = __version__.split('d')[0]
-version = map(int, __version__.split('.'))
-if version[0] == 0 and version[1] == 96 and version[2] < 92:
-    print "Scons >= 0.96.92 is required."
-    Exit(1)
-
+# Please use at least version 0.97
+EnsureSConsVersion(0, 97)
 
 #----------------------------------------------------------
 # Global definitions
diff --git a/status.15x b/status.15x
index 2be663e3e3..1ab76aaece 100644
--- a/status.15x
+++ b/status.15x
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ What's new
 
 * BUILD
 
+- Allow the use of newer versions of scons such as scons 1.0.0.
 
 
 ** Bug fixes: