diff --git a/qutebrowser/config/configfiles.py b/qutebrowser/config/configfiles.py
index 62e4d7970..9d76d4ee5 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/config/configfiles.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/config/configfiles.py
@@ -172,13 +172,18 @@ class YamlConfig(QObject):
             raise configexc.ConfigFileErrors('autoconfig.yml', [desc])
 
         config_version = self._pop_object(yaml_data, 'config_version', int)
-
         if config_version == 1:
             settings = self._load_legacy_settings_object(yaml_data)
             self._mark_changed()
+        elif config_version > self.VERSION:
+            desc = configexc.ConfigErrorDesc(
+                "While reading",
+                "Can't read config from incompatible newer version")
+            raise configexc.ConfigFileErrors('autoconfig.yml', [desc])
         else:
             settings = self._load_settings_object(yaml_data)
             self._dirty = False
+
         settings = self._handle_migrations(settings)
         self._validate(settings)
         self._build_values(settings)
diff --git a/tests/unit/config/test_configfiles.py b/tests/unit/config/test_configfiles.py
index 29314d87e..eadddf39b 100644
--- a/tests/unit/config/test_configfiles.py
+++ b/tests/unit/config/test_configfiles.py
@@ -330,6 +330,20 @@ class TestYaml:
             }
         }
 
+    def test_read_newer_version(self, yaml, autoconfig):
+        autoconfig.write_toplevel({
+            'config_version': 999,
+            'settings': {},
+        })
+        with pytest.raises(configexc.ConfigFileErrors) as excinfo:
+            yaml.load()
+
+        assert len(excinfo.value.errors) == 1
+        error = excinfo.value.errors[0]
+        assert error.text == "While reading"
+        msg = "Can't read config from incompatible newer version"
+        assert error.exception == msg
+
     def test_oserror(self, yaml, autoconfig):
         autoconfig.fobj.ensure()
         autoconfig.fobj.chmod(0)