diff --git a/src/node/server.js b/src/node/server.js
index 1207dff96..56cd580d3 100755
--- a/src/node/server.js
+++ b/src/node/server.js
@@ -28,6 +28,17 @@ var log4js = require('log4js')
 
 log4js.replaceConsole();
 
+/*
+ * early check for version compatibility before calling
+ * any modules that require newer versions of NodeJS
+ */
+NodeVersion.enforceMinNodeVersion('6.9.0');
+
+/*
+ * Since Etherpad 1.8.0, at least NodeJS 8.9.0 will be required
+ */
+NodeVersion.checkDeprecationStatus('8.9.0', '1.8.0');
+
 /*
  * start up stats counting system
  */
@@ -43,16 +54,6 @@ var settings
 var npm = require("npm/lib/npm.js");
 
 async.waterfall([
-  function(callback)
-  {
-    NodeVersion.enforceMinNodeVersion('6.9.0', callback);
-  },
-
-  function(callback)
-  {
-    NodeVersion.checkDeprecationStatus('8.9.0', '1.8.0', callback);
-  },
-
   // load npm
   function(callback) {
     npm.load({}, function(er) {
diff --git a/src/node/utils/NodeVersion.js b/src/node/utils/NodeVersion.js
index dac492b1f..1ebbcbca0 100644
--- a/src/node/utils/NodeVersion.js
+++ b/src/node/utils/NodeVersion.js
@@ -24,19 +24,18 @@ const semver = require('semver');
  * Quits if Etherpad is not running on a given minimum Node version
  *
  * @param  {String}     minNodeVersion   Minimum required Node version
- * @param  {Function}   callback         Standard callback function
  */
-exports.enforceMinNodeVersion = function(minNodeVersion, callback) {
+exports.enforceMinNodeVersion = function(minNodeVersion) {
   const currentNodeVersion = process.version;
 
   // we cannot use template literals, since we still do not know if we are
   // running under Node >= 4.0
   if (semver.lt(currentNodeVersion, minNodeVersion)) {
     console.error('Running Etherpad on Node ' + currentNodeVersion + ' is not supported. Please upgrade at least to Node ' + minNodeVersion);
-  } else {
-    console.debug('Running on Node ' + currentNodeVersion + ' (minimum required Node version: ' + minNodeVersion + ')');
-    callback();
+    process.exit(1);
   }
+
+  console.debug('Running on Node ' + currentNodeVersion + ' (minimum required Node version: ' + minNodeVersion + ')');
 };
 
 /**
@@ -45,12 +44,10 @@ exports.enforceMinNodeVersion = function(minNodeVersion, callback) {
  * @param  {String}    lowestNonDeprecatedNodeVersion   all Node version less than this one are deprecated
  * @param  {Function}  epRemovalVersion                 Etherpad version that will remove support for deprecated Node releases
  */
-exports.checkDeprecationStatus = function(lowestNonDeprecatedNodeVersion, epRemovalVersion, callback) {
+exports.checkDeprecationStatus = function(lowestNonDeprecatedNodeVersion, epRemovalVersion) {
   const currentNodeVersion = process.version;
 
   if (semver.lt(currentNodeVersion, lowestNonDeprecatedNodeVersion)) {
     console.warn(`Support for Node ${currentNodeVersion} will be removed in Etherpad ${epRemovalVersion}. Please consider updating at least to Node ${lowestNonDeprecatedNodeVersion}`);
   }
-
-  callback();
 };