diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 6fa9fe8d..bcd3281d 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@
     "react-router-dom": "^5.1.2",
     "react-waypoint": "^9.0.2",
     "rich-markdown-editor": "^10.1.2",
+    "semver": "^7.3.2",
     "sequelize": "^5.21.1",
     "sequelize-cli": "^5.5.0",
     "sequelize-encrypted": "^0.1.0",
@@ -191,4 +192,4 @@
     "js-yaml": "^3.13.1"
   },
   "version": "0.43.3"
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/server/api/middlewares/editor.js b/server/api/middlewares/editor.js
index da6ac4e5..e0868e93 100644
--- a/server/api/middlewares/editor.js
+++ b/server/api/middlewares/editor.js
@@ -1,16 +1,26 @@
 // @flow
+import semver from 'semver';
 import { type Context } from 'koa';
 import pkg from 'rich-markdown-editor/package.json';
 import { EditorUpdateError } from '../../errors';
 
 export default function editor() {
   return async function editorMiddleware(ctx: Context, next: () => Promise<*>) {
-    const editorVersion = ctx.headers['x-editor-version'];
+    const clientVersion = ctx.headers['x-editor-version'];
 
-    // As the client can only ever be behind the server there's no need for a
-    // more strict check of version infront/behind here
-    if (editorVersion && editorVersion !== pkg.version) {
-      throw new EditorUpdateError();
+    // If the editor version on the client is behind the current version being
+    // served in production by either a minor (new features), or major (breaking
+    // changes) then force a client reload.
+    if (clientVersion) {
+      const parsedClientVersion = semver.parse(clientVersion);
+      const parsedCurrentVersion = semver.parse(pkg.version);
+
+      if (
+        parsedClientVersion.major < parsedCurrentVersion.major ||
+        parsedClientVersion.minor < parsedCurrentVersion.minor
+      ) {
+        throw new EditorUpdateError();
+      }
     }
     return next();
   };
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index fdd629a6..2ea98eca 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -8826,6 +8826,11 @@ semver@^6.3.0:
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/semver/-/semver-6.3.0.tgz#ee0a64c8af5e8ceea67687b133761e1becbd1d3d"
   integrity sha512-b39TBaTSfV6yBrapU89p5fKekE2m/NwnDocOVruQFS1/veMgdzuPcnOM34M6CwxW8jH/lxEa5rBoDeUwu5HHTw==
 
+semver@^7.3.2:
+  version "7.3.2"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/semver/-/semver-7.3.2.tgz#604962b052b81ed0786aae84389ffba70ffd3938"
+  integrity sha512-OrOb32TeeambH6UrhtShmF7CRDqhL6/5XpPNp2DuRH6+9QLw/orhp72j87v8Qa1ScDkvrrBNpZcDejAirJmfXQ==
+
 sequelize-cli@^5.5.0:
   version "5.5.1"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/sequelize-cli/-/sequelize-cli-5.5.1.tgz#0b9c2fc04d082cc8ae0a8fe270b96bb606152bab"