diff --git a/comfy_api_nodes/canary.py b/comfy_api_nodes/canary.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4df7590b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/comfy_api_nodes/canary.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+import av
+
+ver = av.__version__.split(".")
+if int(ver[0]) < 14:
+    raise Exception("INSTALL NEW VERSION OF PYAV TO USE API NODES.")
+
+if int(ver[0]) == 14 and int(ver[1]) < 2:
+    raise Exception("INSTALL NEW VERSION OF PYAV TO USE API NODES.")
+
+NODE_CLASS_MAPPINGS = {}
diff --git a/nodes.py b/nodes.py
index d2ffd525..a1ddf2dd 100644
--- a/nodes.py
+++ b/nodes.py
@@ -2289,6 +2289,9 @@ def init_builtin_api_nodes():
         "nodes_pika.py",
     ]
 
+    if not load_custom_node(os.path.join(api_nodes_dir, "canary.py"), module_parent="comfy_api_nodes"):
+        return api_nodes_files
+
     import_failed = []
     for node_file in api_nodes_files:
         if not load_custom_node(os.path.join(api_nodes_dir, node_file), module_parent="comfy_api_nodes"):