diff --git a/doc/conf.py b/doc/conf.py
index 13cec2cec7..2ed9ba3a42 100644
--- a/doc/conf.py
+++ b/doc/conf.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def _warn_node(self, msg, node, *args, **kwargs):
 # -- General configuration ------------------------------------------------
 
 # If your documentation needs a minimal Sphinx version, state it here.
-#needs_sphinx = '1.0'
+needs_sphinx = '1.4.4'
 
 # Add any Sphinx extension module names here, as strings. They can be
 # extensions coming with Sphinx (named 'sphinx.ext.*') or your custom
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index cc55b325a0..f7c2019531 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ commands = isort -w 120 -rc luigi test examples bin
 # Call this using `tox -e docs`.
 deps =
   sqlalchemy
-  Sphinx==1.4.2
+  Sphinx>=1.4.4<1.5
   sphinx_rtd_theme
 commands =
     # build API docs