diff --git a/x/create/client/create.go b/x/create/client/create.go
index a6f1cd0f4..1a5968c5f 100644
--- a/x/create/client/create.go
+++ b/x/create/client/create.go
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ import (
 	"slices"
 	"strings"
 
+	"golang.org/x/mod/semver"
+
 	"github.com/ollama/ollama/api"
 	"github.com/ollama/ollama/manifest"
 	modelparsers "github.com/ollama/ollama/model/parsers"
@@ -38,6 +40,7 @@ type ModelfileConfig struct {
 	Draft      string
 	Parser     string
 	Renderer   string
+	Requires   string
 	Parameters map[string]any
 }
 
@@ -75,7 +78,20 @@ func ConfigFromModelfile(modelfile *parser.Modelfile) (string, *ModelfileConfig,
 			mfConfig.Parser = cmd.Args
 		case "renderer":
 			mfConfig.Renderer = cmd.Args
-		case "adapter", "message", "requires":
+		case "requires":
+			requires := cmd.Args
+			if !strings.HasPrefix(requires, "v") {
+				requires = "v" + requires
+			}
+			if !semver.IsValid(requires) {
+				return "", nil, fmt.Errorf("requires must be a valid semver (e.g. 0.14.0)")
+			}
+			minVersion := "v" + MinOllamaVersion
+			if semver.Compare(requires, minVersion) < 0 {
+				return "", nil, fmt.Errorf("requires %s is below the minimum supported version %s for safetensors models", strings.TrimPrefix(requires, "v"), MinOllamaVersion)
+			}
+			mfConfig.Requires = strings.TrimPrefix(requires, "v")
+		case "adapter", "message":
 			continue
 		default:
 			if slices.Contains(ignoredModelfileParameters, cmd.Name) {
@@ -518,6 +534,9 @@ func newManifestWriter(opts CreateOptions, capabilities []string, parserName, re
 		}
 		configData.Capabilities = caps
 		configData.Requires = MinOllamaVersion
+		if opts.Modelfile != nil && opts.Modelfile.Requires != "" {
+			configData.Requires = opts.Modelfile.Requires
+		}
 		configData.Parser = resolveParserName(opts.Modelfile, parserName)
 		configData.Renderer = resolveRendererName(opts.Modelfile, rendererName)
 		if opts.Modelfile != nil && opts.Modelfile.Draft != "" {
diff --git a/x/create/client/create_test.go b/x/create/client/create_test.go
index 47cd9d8b3..e1a9fd2f1 100644
--- a/x/create/client/create_test.go
+++ b/x/create/client/create_test.go
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ func TestConfigFromModelfile(t *testing.T) {
 FROM ./model
 DRAFT ./assistant
 TEMPLATE {{ .Prompt }}
+REQUIRES 0.20.0
 PARAMETER temperature 0.7
 PARAMETER stop USER:
 PARAMETER stop ASSISTANT:
@@ -71,6 +72,10 @@ PARAMETER stop ASSISTANT:
 		t.Fatalf("Draft = %q, want %q", mfConfig.Draft, "./assistant")
 	}
 
+	if mfConfig.Requires != "0.20.0" {
+		t.Fatalf("Requires = %q, want %q", mfConfig.Requires, "0.20.0")
+	}
+
 	if got := mfConfig.Parameters["temperature"]; got != float32(0.7) {
 		t.Fatalf("temperature = %#v, want %v", got, float32(0.7))
 	}
@@ -80,6 +85,42 @@ PARAMETER stop ASSISTANT:
 	}
 }
 
+func TestConfigFromModelfile_RequiresBelowMinimum(t *testing.T) {
+	modelfile, err := parser.ParseFile(strings.NewReader(`
+FROM ./model
+REQUIRES 0.14.0
+`))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	_, _, err = ConfigFromModelfile(modelfile)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error for REQUIRES below minimum, got nil")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "minimum supported version") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %v, want error mentioning minimum supported version", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestConfigFromModelfile_RequiresInvalidSemver(t *testing.T) {
+	modelfile, err := parser.ParseFile(strings.NewReader(`
+FROM ./model
+REQUIRES not-a-version
+`))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	_, _, err = ConfigFromModelfile(modelfile)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error for invalid semver, got nil")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "valid semver") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %v, want semver error", err)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestModelfileConfig_Empty(t *testing.T) {
 	config := &ModelfileConfig{}