diff --git a/plugins/inputs/kafka_consumer/README.md b/plugins/inputs/kafka_consumer/README.md
index 26ebca39d..efd3ffad6 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/kafka_consumer/README.md
+++ b/plugins/inputs/kafka_consumer/README.md
@@ -23,8 +23,7 @@ and use the old zookeeper connection method.
   # client_id = "Telegraf"
 
   ## Set the minimal supported Kafka version.  Setting this enables the use of new
-  ## Kafka features and APIs.  Of particular interest, lz4 compression
-  ## requires at least version 0.10.0.0.
+  ## Kafka features and APIs.  Must be 0.10.2.0 or greater.
   ##   ex: version = "1.1.0"
   # version = ""
 
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/kafka_consumer/kafka_consumer.go b/plugins/inputs/kafka_consumer/kafka_consumer.go
index 10a6251be..2703bb52d 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/kafka_consumer/kafka_consumer.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/kafka_consumer/kafka_consumer.go
@@ -28,8 +28,7 @@ const sampleConfig = `
   # client_id = "Telegraf"
 
   ## Set the minimal supported Kafka version.  Setting this enables the use of new
-  ## Kafka features and APIs.  Of particular interest, lz4 compression
-  ## requires at least version 0.10.0.0.
+  ## Kafka features and APIs.  Must be 0.10.2.0 or greater.
   ##   ex: version = "1.1.0"
   # version = ""
 
@@ -143,11 +142,15 @@ func (k *KafkaConsumer) Init() error {
 	config := sarama.NewConfig()
 	config.Consumer.Return.Errors = true
 
+	// Kafka version 0.10.2.0 is required for consumer groups.
+	config.Version = sarama.V0_10_2_0
+
 	if k.Version != "" {
 		version, err := sarama.ParseKafkaVersion(k.Version)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+
 		config.Version = version
 	}