diff --git a/agent/bedrock_adapter.py b/agent/bedrock_adapter.py
index a09e1bc5d82..d5dab7bafff 100644
--- a/agent/bedrock_adapter.py
+++ b/agent/bedrock_adapter.py
@@ -58,17 +58,34 @@ _bedrock_runtime_client_cache: Dict[str, Any] = {}
 _bedrock_control_client_cache: Dict[str, Any] = {}
 
 
+_MIN_BOTO3_VERSION = (1, 34, 59)
+
+
 def _require_boto3():
-    """Import boto3, raising a clear error if not installed."""
+    """Import boto3, raising a clear error if not installed or too old."""
     try:
         import boto3
-        return boto3
     except ImportError:
         raise ImportError(
             "The 'boto3' package is required for the AWS Bedrock provider. "
             "Install it with: pip install boto3\n"
             "Or install Hermes with Bedrock support: pip install -e '.[bedrock]'"
         )
+    # converse() / converse_stream() were added in boto3 1.34.59.
+    # When Hermes is installed editable into system Python, the system boto3
+    # (e.g. Ubuntu 24.04 ships 1.34.46) may take precedence over the venv
+    # version pinned in pyproject.toml.
+    try:
+        version = tuple(int(x) for x in boto3.__version__.split(".")[:3])
+    except (AttributeError, ValueError):
+        return boto3  # can't parse — don't block on version check
+    if version < _MIN_BOTO3_VERSION:
+        raise RuntimeError(
+            f"boto3 {boto3.__version__} does not support converse_stream "
+            f"(minimum 1.34.59 required). Upgrade with: "
+            f"pip install --upgrade boto3"
+        )
+    return boto3
 
 
 def _get_bedrock_runtime_client(region: str):
diff --git a/tests/agent/test_bedrock_adapter.py b/tests/agent/test_bedrock_adapter.py
index f8190bf0d71..ac2b557aeac 100644
--- a/tests/agent/test_bedrock_adapter.py
+++ b/tests/agent/test_bedrock_adapter.py
@@ -1663,3 +1663,52 @@ class TestCallConverseStreamIamFallback:
         assert result.choices[0].message.content == "hi"
         # Not a stale connection — client stays cached.
         assert _bedrock_runtime_client_cache.get("us-east-1") is client
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# boto3 version check
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+class TestRequireBoto3VersionCheck:
+    """Test that _require_boto3() rejects boto3 versions older than 1.34.59."""
+
+    def test_raises_runtime_error_when_boto3_too_old(self):
+        """boto3 < 1.34.59 should raise RuntimeError with upgrade instructions."""
+        from agent.bedrock_adapter import _require_boto3
+
+        fake_boto3 = MagicMock()
+        fake_boto3.__version__ = "1.34.46"
+        with patch.dict("sys.modules", {"boto3": fake_boto3}):
+            with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="does not support converse_stream"):
+                _require_boto3()
+
+    def test_accepts_boto3_at_minimum_version(self):
+        """boto3 == 1.34.59 should be accepted."""
+        from agent.bedrock_adapter import _require_boto3
+
+        fake_boto3 = MagicMock()
+        fake_boto3.__version__ = "1.34.59"
+        with patch.dict("sys.modules", {"boto3": fake_boto3}):
+            result = _require_boto3()
+            assert result is fake_boto3
+
+    def test_accepts_newer_boto3(self):
+        """boto3 > 1.34.59 should be accepted."""
+        from agent.bedrock_adapter import _require_boto3
+
+        fake_boto3 = MagicMock()
+        fake_boto3.__version__ = "1.42.89"
+        with patch.dict("sys.modules", {"boto3": fake_boto3}):
+            result = _require_boto3()
+            assert result is fake_boto3
+
+    def test_accepts_boto3_with_unparseable_version(self):
+        """If version string can't be parsed, don't block on version check."""
+        from agent.bedrock_adapter import _require_boto3
+
+        fake_boto3 = MagicMock()
+        fake_boto3.__version__ = "dev"
+        with patch.dict("sys.modules", {"boto3": fake_boto3}):
+            result = _require_boto3()
+            assert result is fake_boto3