diff --git a/bridge/config/config.go b/bridge/config/config.go
index a0cc20f7..e7d8da59 100644
--- a/bridge/config/config.go
+++ b/bridge/config/config.go
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ type Protocol struct {
 	ShowUserTyping         bool       // slack
 	ShowEmbeds             bool       // discord
 	SkipTLSVerify          bool       // IRC, mattermost
+	SkipVersionCheck       bool       // mattermost
 	StripNick              bool       // all protocols
 	SyncTopic              bool       // slack
 	TengoModifyMessage     string     // general
diff --git a/bridge/mattermost/helpers.go b/bridge/mattermost/helpers.go
index 121cd4db..14b7469d 100644
--- a/bridge/mattermost/helpers.go
+++ b/bridge/mattermost/helpers.go
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ func (b *Bmattermost) apiLogin() error {
 		b.mc.SetLogLevel("debug")
 	}
 	b.mc.SkipTLSVerify = b.GetBool("SkipTLSVerify")
+	b.mc.SkipVersionCheck = b.GetBool("SkipVersionCheck")
 	b.mc.NoTLS = b.GetBool("NoTLS")
 	b.Log.Infof("Connecting %s (team: %s) on %s", b.GetString("Login"), b.GetString("Team"), b.GetString("Server"))
 	err := b.mc.Login()
diff --git a/matterclient/helpers.go b/matterclient/helpers.go
index c3d33145..d5b1038a 100644
--- a/matterclient/helpers.go
+++ b/matterclient/helpers.go
@@ -186,15 +186,19 @@ func (m *MMClient) serverAlive(firstConnection bool, b *backoff.Backoff) error {
 		if resp.Error != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("%#v", resp.Error.Error())
 		}
-		if firstConnection && !supportedVersion(resp.ServerVersion) {
+		if firstConnection && !m.SkipVersionCheck && !supportedVersion(resp.ServerVersion) {
 			return fmt.Errorf("unsupported mattermost version: %s", resp.ServerVersion)
 		}
-		m.ServerVersion = resp.ServerVersion
-		if m.ServerVersion == "" {
-			m.logger.Debugf("Server not up yet, reconnecting in %s", d)
-			time.Sleep(d)
+		if !m.SkipVersionCheck {
+			m.ServerVersion = resp.ServerVersion
+			if m.ServerVersion == "" {
+				m.logger.Debugf("Server not up yet, reconnecting in %s", d)
+				time.Sleep(d)
+			} else {
+				m.logger.Infof("Found version %s", m.ServerVersion)
+				return nil
+			}
 		} else {
-			m.logger.Infof("Found version %s", m.ServerVersion)
 			return nil
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/matterclient/matterclient.go b/matterclient/matterclient.go
index 66ffcca6..338f86d7 100644
--- a/matterclient/matterclient.go
+++ b/matterclient/matterclient.go
@@ -16,14 +16,15 @@ import (
 )
 
 type Credentials struct {
-	Login         string
-	Team          string
-	Pass          string
-	Token         string
-	CookieToken   bool
-	Server        string
-	NoTLS         bool
-	SkipTLSVerify bool
+	Login            string
+	Team             string
+	Pass             string
+	Token            string
+	CookieToken      bool
+	Server           string
+	NoTLS            bool
+	SkipTLSVerify    bool
+	SkipVersionCheck bool
 }
 
 type Message struct {