diff --git a/include/cppkafka/event.h b/include/cppkafka/event.h
index a48175c..5fea261 100644
--- a/include/cppkafka/event.h
+++ b/include/cppkafka/event.h
@@ -121,12 +121,16 @@ public:
      */
     void* get_opaque() const;
 
+#if RD_KAFKA_VERSION >= RD_KAFKA_EVENT_STATS_SUPPORT_VERSION
     /**
      * \brief Gets the stats in this event
      *
      * This call is only valid if the event type is RD_KAFKA_EVENT_STATS
      */
-    std::string get_stats() const;
+    std::string get_stats() const {
+        return rd_kafka_event_stats(handle_.get());
+    }
+#endif
 
     /**
      * \brief Gets the topic/partition for this event
diff --git a/include/cppkafka/macros.h b/include/cppkafka/macros.h
index 70c151a..460b414 100644
--- a/include/cppkafka/macros.h
+++ b/include/cppkafka/macros.h
@@ -48,5 +48,6 @@
 #define RD_KAFKA_HEADERS_SUPPORT_VERSION 0x000b0402 //v0.11.4.02
 #define RD_KAFKA_ADMIN_API_SUPPORT_VERSION 0x000b0500 //v0.11.5.00
 #define RD_KAFKA_MESSAGE_LATENCY_SUPPORT_VERSION 0x000b0000 //v0.11.0.00
+#define RD_KAFKA_EVENT_STATS_SUPPORT_VERSION 0x000b0000 //v0.11.0.00
 
 #endif // CPPKAFKA_MACROS_H
diff --git a/src/event.cpp b/src/event.cpp
index 1c82d3d..3fbc52f 100644
--- a/src/event.cpp
+++ b/src/event.cpp
@@ -73,10 +73,6 @@ void* Event::get_opaque() const {
     return rd_kafka_event_opaque(handle_.get());
 }
 
-string Event::get_stats() const {
-    return rd_kafka_event_stats(handle_.get());
-}
-
 TopicPartition Event::get_topic_partition() const {
     using TopparHandle = unique_ptr<rd_kafka_topic_partition_t,
                                     decltype(&rd_kafka_topic_partition_destroy)>;