diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9df015c11..53b3e842c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ build system.
 
 #### Dependencies
 
- - [Python](https://python.org) (version 3.5 or newer)
- - [Ninja](https://ninja-build.org) (version 1.7 or newer)
+ - [Python](https://python.org) (version 3.6 or newer)
+ - [Ninja](https://ninja-build.org) (version 1.8.2 or newer)
 
 #### Installing from source
 
diff --git a/mesonbuild/backend/ninjabackend.py b/mesonbuild/backend/ninjabackend.py
index f79e1f0bf..b03954a6a 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/backend/ninjabackend.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/backend/ninjabackend.py
@@ -492,7 +492,7 @@ int dummy;
     def generate(self):
         ninja = environment.detect_ninja_command_and_version(log=True)
         if ninja is None:
-            raise MesonException('Could not detect Ninja v1.7 or newer')
+            raise MesonException('Could not detect Ninja v1.8.2 or newer')
         (self.ninja_command, self.ninja_version) = ninja
         outfilename = os.path.join(self.environment.get_build_dir(), self.ninja_filename)
         tempfilename = outfilename + '~'
@@ -500,7 +500,7 @@ int dummy;
             outfile.write('# This is the build file for project "{}"\n'.format(self.build.get_project()))
             outfile.write('# It is autogenerated by the Meson build system.\n')
             outfile.write('# Do not edit by hand.\n\n')
-            outfile.write('ninja_required_version = 1.7.1\n\n')
+            outfile.write('ninja_required_version = 1.8.2\n\n')
 
             num_pools = self.environment.coredata.backend_options['backend_max_links'].value
             if num_pools > 0:
diff --git a/mesonbuild/environment.py b/mesonbuild/environment.py
index 7194d0345..faac0edec 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/environment.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/environment.py
@@ -175,11 +175,11 @@ def find_coverage_tools() -> T.Tuple[T.Optional[str], T.Optional[str], T.Optiona
 
     return gcovr_exe, gcovr_new_rootdir, lcov_exe, genhtml_exe, llvm_cov_exe
 
-def detect_ninja(version: str = '1.7', log: bool = False) -> T.List[str]:
+def detect_ninja(version: str = '1.8.2', log: bool = False) -> T.List[str]:
     r = detect_ninja_command_and_version(version, log)
     return r[0] if r else None
 
-def detect_ninja_command_and_version(version: str = '1.7', log: bool = False) -> (T.List[str], str):
+def detect_ninja_command_and_version(version: str = '1.8.2', log: bool = False) -> (T.List[str], str):
     from .dependencies.base import ExternalProgram
     env_ninja = os.environ.get('NINJA', None)
     for n in [env_ninja] if env_ninja else ['ninja', 'ninja-build', 'samu']: