diff --git a/sysdeps/linux/open.c b/sysdeps/linux/open.c
index b10358f1..bbbf0df2 100644
--- a/sysdeps/linux/open.c
+++ b/sysdeps/linux/open.c
@@ -37,11 +37,15 @@ static void set_linux_version(glibtop *server)
 {
 	struct utsname uts;
 	unsigned x = 0, y = 0, z = 0;	/* cleared in case sscanf() < 3 */
+	int version_string_depth;
 
 	if (uname(&uts) == -1) /* failure most likely implies impending death */
 		glibtop_error_r(server, "uname() failed");
 
-	if (sscanf(uts.release, "%u.%u.%u", &x, &y, &z) < 3)
+	version_string_depth = sscanf(uts.release, "%d.%d.%d", &x, &y, &z);
+
+	if ((version_string_depth < 2) ||                /* Non-standard for all known kernels */
+	   ((version_string_depth < 3) && (x < 3)))      /* Non-standard for 2.x.x kernels */
 		glibtop_warn_r(server,
 			       "Non-standard uts for running kernel:\n"
 			       "release %s=%u.%u.%u gives version code %d\n",