diff --git a/mix.exs b/mix.exs
index 8f13482f0..2e136884d 100644
--- a/mix.exs
+++ b/mix.exs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ defmodule Ejabberd.Mixfile do
     [app: :ejabberd,
      version: "18.9.0",
      description: description(),
-     elixir: "~> 1.6",
+     elixir: "~> 1.4",
      elixirc_paths: ["lib"],
      compile_path: ".",
      compilers: [:asn1] ++ Mix.compilers,
diff --git a/rebar.config b/rebar.config
index 564018b86..a87ec0054 100644
--- a/rebar.config
+++ b/rebar.config
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
                                            {tag, {if_version_above, "19", "develop", "2.5.3"}}}}},
         %% Elixir support, needed to run tests
         {if_var_true, elixir, {elixir, ".*", {git, "https://github.com/elixir-lang/elixir",
-                                              {tag, "v1.6.6"}}}},
+                                              {tag, {if_version_above, "17", "v1.4.4", "v1.1.1"}}}}},
         %% TODO: When modules are fully migrated to new structure and mix, we will not need anymore rebar_elixir_plugin
         {if_not_rebar3, {if_var_true, elixir, {rebar_elixir_plugin, ".*",
                                                {git, "https://github.com/processone/rebar_elixir_plugin", "0.1.0"}}}},