diff --git a/changelog.d/4450.bugfix b/changelog.d/4450.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b194e94c15
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/4450.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+The dependency checker now correctly reports a version mismatch for optional
+dependencies, instead of reporting the dependency missing.
diff --git a/synapse/python_dependencies.py b/synapse/python_dependencies.py
index 5d087ee26b..590ee59907 100644
--- a/synapse/python_dependencies.py
+++ b/synapse/python_dependencies.py
@@ -143,9 +143,12 @@ def check_requirements(for_feature=None, _get_distribution=get_distribution):
         for dependency in OPTS:
             try:
                 _get_distribution(dependency)
-            except VersionConflict:
+            except VersionConflict as e:
                 deps_needed.append(dependency)
-                errors.append("Needed %s but it was not installed" % (dependency,))
+                errors.append(
+                    "Needed optional %s, got %s==%s"
+                    % (dependency, e.dist.project_name, e.dist.version)
+                )
             except DistributionNotFound:
                 # If it's not found, we don't care
                 pass