diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 913b2e78362b7..39dfe2a45231d 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -119,22 +119,42 @@ def configuration(parent_package='', top_path=None):
 numpy_min_version = '1.6.1'
 
 
-def is_scipy_installed():
+def get_scipy_status():
+    """
+    Returns a dictionary containing a boolean specifying whether SciPy
+    is up-to-date, along with the version string (empty string if
+    not installed).
+    """
+    scipy_status = {}
     try:
         import scipy
-        return parse_version(scipy.__version__) >= parse_version(
-            scipy_min_version)
+        scipy_version = scipy.__version__
+        scipy_status['up_to_date'] = parse_version(
+            scipy_version) >= parse_version(scipy_min_version)
+        scipy_status['version'] = scipy_version
     except ImportError:
-        return False
-
-
-def is_numpy_installed():
+        scipy_status['up_to_date'] = False
+        scipy_status['version'] = ""
+    return scipy_status
+
+
+def get_numpy_status():
+    """
+    Returns a dictionary containing a boolean specifying whether NumPy
+    is up-to-date, along with the version string (empty string if
+    not installed).
+    """
+    numpy_status = {}
     try:
         import numpy
-        return parse_version(numpy.__version__) >= parse_version(
-            numpy_min_version)
+        numpy_version = numpy.__version__
+        numpy_status['up_to_date'] = parse_version(
+            numpy_version) >= parse_version(numpy_min_version)
+        numpy_status['version'] = numpy_version
     except ImportError:
-        return False
+        numpy_status['up_to_date'] = False
+        numpy_status['version'] = ""
+    return numpy_status
 
 
 def setup_package():
@@ -184,22 +204,38 @@ def setup_package():
 
         metadata['version'] = VERSION
     else:
-        if is_numpy_installed() is False:
-            raise ImportError("An up-to-date version of Numerical Python "
-                              "(NumPy) is not installed.\n"
-                              "scikit-learn requires NumPy >= {0}.\n"
-                              .format(numpy_min_version) +
-                              "Installation instructions are available "
-                              "on the scikit-learn website: "
-                              "http://scikit-learn.org/stable/install.html\n")
-        if is_scipy_installed() is False:
-            raise ImportError("An up-to-date version of Scientific Python "
-                              "(SciPy) is not installed.\n"
-                              "scikit-learn requires SciPy >= {0}.\n"
-                              .format(scipy_min_version) +
-                              "Installation instructions are available "
-                              "on the scikit-learn website: "
-                              "http://scikit-learn.org/stable/install.html\n")
+        numpy_status = get_numpy_status()
+        numpy_req_str = "scikit-learn requires NumPy >= {0}.\n".format(
+                        numpy_min_version)
+        scipy_status = get_scipy_status()
+        scipy_req_str = "scikit-learn requires SciPy >= {0}.\n".format(
+                        scipy_min_version)
+
+        instructions = ("Installation instructions are available on the "
+                        "scikit-learn website: "
+                        "http://scikit-learn.org/stable/install.html\n")
+
+        if numpy_status['up_to_date'] is False:
+            if numpy_status['version']:
+                raise ImportError("Your installation of Numerical Python "
+                                  "(NumPy) {0} is out-of-date.\n{1}{2}"
+                                  .format(numpy_status['version'],
+                                          numpy_req_str, instructions))
+            else:
+                raise ImportError("Numerical Python (NumPy) is not "
+                                  "installed.\n{0}{1}"
+                                  .format(numpy_req_str, instructions))
+        if scipy_status['up_to_date'] is False:
+            if scipy_status['version']:
+                raise ImportError("Your installation of Scientific Python "
+                                  "(SciPy) {0} is out-of-date.\n{1}{2}"
+                                  .format(scipy_status['version'],
+                                          scipy_req_str, instructions))
+            else:
+                raise ImportError("Scientific Python (SciPy) is not "
+                                  "installed.\n{0}{1}"
+                                  .format(scipy_req_str, instructions))
+
         from numpy.distutils.core import setup
 
         metadata['configuration'] = configuration