diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 3bfb4f84a..806df8bfd 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ AC_HEADER_STDC
 
 # required versions for dependencies
 m4_define([glib_req_version],           [2.37.3])
-m4_define([cogl_req_version],           [1.15.9])
+m4_define([cogl_req_version],           [1.17.1])
 m4_define([json_glib_req_version],      [0.12.0])
 m4_define([atk_req_version],            [2.5.3])
 m4_define([cairo_req_version],          [1.10])