diff --git a/freqtrade/commands/strategy_utils_commands.py b/freqtrade/commands/strategy_utils_commands.py
index aca368742..ed4d0bf1a 100644
--- a/freqtrade/commands/strategy_utils_commands.py
+++ b/freqtrade/commands/strategy_utils_commands.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import logging
+import sys
 import time
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any, Dict
@@ -19,6 +20,9 @@ def start_strategy_update(args: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
     :return: None
     """
 
+    if sys.version_info == (3, 8):  # pragma: no cover
+        sys.exit("Freqtrade strategy updater requires Python version >= 3.9")
+
     config = setup_utils_configuration(args, RunMode.UTIL_NO_EXCHANGE)
 
     strategy_objs = StrategyResolver.search_all_objects(
diff --git a/tests/test_strategy_updater.py b/tests/test_strategy_updater.py
index 927c5e99f..ea971af72 100644
--- a/tests/test_strategy_updater.py
+++ b/tests/test_strategy_updater.py
@@ -1,8 +1,16 @@
 # pragma pylint: disable=missing-docstring, protected-access, invalid-name
 
+import sys
+
+import pytest
+
 from freqtrade.strategy.strategyupdater import StrategyUpdater
 
 
+if sys.version_info < (3, 9):
+    pytest.skip("StrategyUpdater is not compatible with Python 3.8", allow_module_level=True)
+
+
 def test_strategy_updater(default_conf, caplog) -> None:
     instance_strategy_updater = StrategyUpdater()
     modified_code1 = instance_strategy_updater.update_code("""