--- a/tools/tryselect/selectors/fuzzy.py
+++ b/tools/tryselect/selectors/fuzzy.py
@@ -5,16 +5,17 @@
 from __future__ import absolute_import, print_function, unicode_literals
 
 import os
 import platform
 import re
 import subprocess
 import sys
 from distutils.spawn import find_executable
+from distutils.version import StrictVersion
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 import requests
 import json
 
 from mozbuild.base import MozbuildObject
 from mozboot.util import get_state_dir
 from mozterm import Terminal
 
@@ -52,16 +53,31 @@ appropriate instructions for your platfo
     https://github.com/junegunn/fzf#installation
 
 Only the binary is required, if you do not wish to install the shell and
 editor integrations, download the appropriate binary and put it on your $PATH:
 
     https://github.com/junegunn/fzf-bin/releases
 """.lstrip()
 
+FZF_VERSION_FAILED = """
+Could not obtain the 'fzf' version.
+
+The 'mach try fuzzy' command depends on fzf, and requires version > 0.18.0
+for some of the features. Please install it following the appropriate
+instructions for your platform:
+
+    https://github.com/junegunn/fzf#installation
+
+Only the binary is required, if you do not wish to install the shell and
+editor integrations, download the appropriate binary and put it on your $PATH:
+
+    https://github.com/junegunn/fzf-bin/releases
+""".lstrip()
+
 FZF_INSTALL_FAILED = """
 Failed to install fzf.
 
 Please install fzf manually following the appropriate instructions for your
 platform:
 
     https://github.com/junegunn/fzf#installation
 
@@ -230,16 +246,35 @@ def run_fzf_install_script(fzf_path):
     else:
         cmd = ['./install', '--bin']
 
     if run_cmd(cmd, cwd=fzf_path):
         print(FZF_INSTALL_FAILED)
         sys.exit(1)
 
 
+def should_force_fzf_update(fzf_bin):
+    cmd = [fzf_bin, '--version']
+    try:
+        fzf_version = subprocess.check_output(cmd)
+    except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
+        print(FZF_VERSION_FAILED)
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    # Some fzf versions have extra, e.g 0.18.0 (ff95134)
+    fzf_version = fzf_version.split()[0]
+
+    # 0.18.0 introduced FZF_PREVIEW_COLUMNS as an env variable
+    # in preview subprocesses, which is a feature we use.
+    if StrictVersion(fzf_version) < StrictVersion('0.18.0'):
+        print("fzf version is old, forcing update.")
+        return True
+    return False
+
+
 def fzf_bootstrap(update=False):
     """Bootstrap fzf if necessary and return path to the executable.
 
     The bootstrap works by cloning the fzf repository and running the included
     `install` script. If update is True, we will pull the repository and re-run
     the install script.
     """
     fzf_bin = find_executable('fzf')
@@ -260,20 +295,20 @@ def fzf_bootstrap(update=False):
             print("Update fzf failed.")
             sys.exit(1)
 
         run_fzf_install_script(fzf_path)
         return get_fzf()
 
     if os.path.isdir(fzf_path):
         fzf_bin = get_fzf()
-        if fzf_bin:
-            return fzf_bin
-        # Fzf is cloned, but binary doesn't exist. Try running the install script
-        return fzf_bootstrap(update=True)
+        if not fzf_bin or should_force_fzf_update(fzf_bin):
+            return fzf_bootstrap(update=True)
+
+        return fzf_bin
 
     install = raw_input("Could not detect fzf, install it now? [y/n]: ")
     if install.lower() != 'y':
         return
 
     if not find_executable('git'):
         print("Git not found.")
         print(FZF_INSTALL_FAILED)