diff --git a/src/maketools/plumedcheck b/src/maketools/plumedcheck
index 6d442b6b5fb7de3f8369a50777655e4fbff3776b..2ba30ca0ea292ab0c8392a325957ef4ddff0de5d 100755
--- a/src/maketools/plumedcheck
+++ b/src/maketools/plumedcheck
@@ -278,6 +278,10 @@ BEGINFILE{
 # DOC: E.g., use `#include <cstdlib>` instead of `#include <stdlib.h>`. Notice that
 # DOC: using the modern header all the functions are declared inside the `std` namespace.
       if(h in deprecated_headers) error("deprecated_header","including deprecated header " h);
+# DOC: :unsupported_header_regex:
+# DOC: Header `<regex>`, although part of the C++11 standard, is not supported by gcc 4.8.
+# DOC: In order to allow compatibility with old compilers, this header should not be used.
+      if(h == "regex") error("unsupported_header_regex","including unsupported header " h);
 # DOC: :external_header: (style)
 # DOC: Header files should possibly not include other header files from external libraries.
 # DOC: Indeed, once PLUMED is installed, if paths are not set correctly the include files of the other libraries