diff --git a/hypothesis-python/src/hypothesis/extra/array_api.py b/hypothesis-python/src/hypothesis/extra/array_api.py
index d9c0ceec62..7a33a260f3 100644
--- a/hypothesis-python/src/hypothesis/extra/array_api.py
+++ b/hypothesis-python/src/hypothesis/extra/array_api.py
@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@
 from hypothesis.strategies._internal.strategies import check_strategy
 from hypothesis.strategies._internal.utils import defines_strategy
 
+if sys.version_info[:2] < (3, 8):
+    raise RuntimeError("The Array API standard requires Python 3.8 or later")
+
 __all__ = [
     "make_strategies_namespace",
 ]
@@ -902,7 +905,7 @@ def make_strategies_namespace(
         check_argument(
             isinstance(xp.__array_api_version__, str)
             and xp.__array_api_version__ in RELEASED_VERSIONS,
-            f"{xp.__array_api_version__=}, but xp.__array_api_version__ must "
+            f"xp.__array_api_version__={xp.__array_api_version__!r}, but it must "
             f"be a valid version string {RELEASED_VERSIONS}. {not_available_msg}",
         )
         api_version = xp.__array_api_version__
@@ -910,8 +913,8 @@ def make_strategies_namespace(
     else:
         check_argument(
             isinstance(api_version, str) and api_version in NOMINAL_VERSIONS,
-            f"{api_version=}, but api_version must be None, or a valid version "
-            f"string {RELEASED_VERSIONS}. {not_available_msg}",
+            f"api_version={api_version!r}, but it must be None, or a valid version "
+            f"string in {RELEASED_VERSIONS}. {not_available_msg}",
         )
         inferred_version = False
     try:
diff --git a/hypothesis-python/tests/cover/test_validation.py b/hypothesis-python/tests/cover/test_validation.py
index c7c57573ce..ffc52e4678 100644
--- a/hypothesis-python/tests/cover/test_validation.py
+++ b/hypothesis-python/tests/cover/test_validation.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 # obtain one at https://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
 
 import functools
+import sys
 
 import pytest
 
@@ -274,3 +275,13 @@ def test_check_strategy_might_suggest_sampled_from():
     with pytest.raises(InvalidArgument, match="such as st.sampled_from"):
         check_strategy_((1, 2, 3))
     check_strategy_(integers(), "passes for our custom coverage check")
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(sys.version_info[:2] >= (3, 8), reason="only on 3.7")
+def test_explicit_error_from_array_api_before_py38():
+    with pytest.raises(
+        RuntimeError, match=r"The Array API standard requires Python 3\.8 or later"
+    ):
+        from hypothesis.extra import array_api
+
+        assert array_api  # avoid unused-name lint error