diff --git a/nvm.sh b/nvm.sh
index ba25641..debd227 100755
--- a/nvm.sh
+++ b/nvm.sh
@@ -115,7 +115,13 @@ nvm()
         if ! which npm ; then
           echo "Installing npm..."
           # TODO: if node version 0.2.x add npm_install=0.2.19 before sh
-          curl http://npmjs.org/install.sh | clean=yes sh
+          if [[ "`expr match $VERSION '\(^v0\.1\.\)'`" != '' ]]; then
+            echo "npm requires node v0.2.x or higher"
+          elif [[ "`expr match $VERSION '\(^v0\.2\.\)'`" != '' ]]; then
+            curl http://npmjs.org/install.sh | clean=yes npm_install=0.2.19 sh
+          else
+            curl http://npmjs.org/install.sh | clean=yes sh
+          fi
         fi
       else
         echo "nvm: install $VERSION failed!"