diff --git a/lang/en/plugin.php b/lang/en/plugin.php
index c0d4da1fa3b..923ac2d68c6 100644
--- a/lang/en/plugin.php
+++ b/lang/en/plugin.php
@@ -225,6 +225,7 @@ $string['validationmsg_onedir'] = 'Invalid structure of the ZIP package.';
 $string['validationmsg_onedir_help'] = 'The ZIP package must contain just one root directory that holds the plugin code. The name of that root directory must match the name of the plugin.';
 $string['validationmsg_pathwritable'] = 'Write access check';
 $string['validationmsg_pluginversion'] = 'Plugin version';
+$string['validationmsg_pluginversiontoolow'] = 'A higher version of this plugin is already installed';
 $string['validationmsg_release'] = 'Plugin release';
 $string['validationmsg_requiresmoodle'] = 'Required Moodle version';
 $string['validationmsg_rootdir'] = 'Name of the plugin to be installed';
diff --git a/lib/classes/update/validator.php b/lib/classes/update/validator.php
index 7d0f997a678..b57cdf7c056 100644
--- a/lib/classes/update/validator.php
+++ b/lib/classes/update/validator.php
@@ -394,6 +394,13 @@ class validator {
         }
         $this->add_message(self::INFO, 'componentmatch', $this->versionphp['component']);
 
+        // Ensure the version we are uploading is higher than the version currently installed.
+        $plugininfo = $this->get_plugin_manager()->get_plugin_info($this->versionphp['component']);
+        if (!is_null($plugininfo) && $this->versionphp['version'] < $plugininfo->versiondb) {
+            $this->add_message(self::ERROR, 'pluginversiontoolow', $plugininfo->versiondb);
+            return false;
+        }
+
         if (isset($info['plugin->maturity'])) {
             $this->versionphp['maturity'] = $info['plugin->maturity'];
             if ($this->versionphp['maturity'] === 'MATURITY_STABLE') {