diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/audit.rb b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/audit.rb
index 78a65952b2..9a4b0ca0a6 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/audit.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/audit.rb
@@ -287,6 +287,14 @@ class FormulaAuditor
 
       spec.patches.select(&:external?).each { |p| audit_patch(p) }
     end
+
+    if f.stable && f.devel
+      if f.devel.version < f.stable.version
+        problem "devel version #{f.devel.version} is older than stable version #{f.stable.version}"
+      elsif f.devel.version == f.stable.version
+        problem "stable and devel versions are identical"
+      end
+    end
   end
 
   def audit_patches