diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
index 17c347294b9c8b3d19f65d66dc266bc7f585d6f5..9c22abe7d79cb1c77a58eb1a98775af0203d28ca 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ git clone --depth=1 https://git-bioimage.coe.drexel.edu/opensource/leverjs.git
 git clone --depth=1 https://git-bioimage.coe.drexel.edu/opensource/leverUtilities.git
 git clone --depth=1 https://git-bioimage.coe.drexel.edu/opensource/hydra-image-processor.git
 ```
+# MATLAB requirements
+leverjs and ljsctc projects require matlab 2021b or later, with the database and image processing toolboxes installed.
 # using the LJSCTC repo
 
 LJSCTC can be provided via prebuilt executable for specific tasks like running a CTC dataset. this is generally how we proceed for CTC submissions. a runtime matching the version of matlab that the executable was built with is all that is required. we also utilize cuda-based image processing toolkit called the 'hydra image processor', https://git-bioimage.coe.drexel.edu/opensource/hydra-image-processor.