diff --git a/.changelog/14912.txt b/.changelog/14912.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..6cafa5a53e51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changelog/14912.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+```release-note:bug
+variables: Fixed a bug where Nomad version checking was not enforced for writing to variables
+```
diff --git a/nomad/leader.go b/nomad/leader.go
index 7e9bea28a8fb..86ad646e80f0 100644
--- a/nomad/leader.go
+++ b/nomad/leader.go
@@ -1991,14 +1991,7 @@ func (s *Server) initializeKeyring(stopCh <-chan struct{}) {
 		default:
 		}
 
-		members := s.serf.Members()
-		regionMembers := []serf.Member{}
-		for _, member := range members {
-			if member.Tags["region"] == s.Region() {
-				regionMembers = append(regionMembers, member)
-			}
-		}
-		if ServersMeetMinimumVersion(regionMembers, minVersionKeyring, true) {
+		if RegionServersMeetMinimumVersion(s.serf.Members(), s.Region(), minVersionKeyring, true) {
 			break
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/nomad/variables_endpoint.go b/nomad/variables_endpoint.go
index 2bfa430ab08a..a2d650ae8b2c 100644
--- a/nomad/variables_endpoint.go
+++ b/nomad/variables_endpoint.go
@@ -46,6 +46,11 @@ func (sv *Variables) Apply(args *structs.VariablesApplyRequest, reply *structs.V
 		args.Var.Namespace = targetNS
 	}
 
+	if RegionServersMeetMinimumVersion(
+		sv.srv.serf.Members(), sv.srv.Region(), minVersionKeyring, true) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("all servers must be running version 1.4.0 or later to apply variables")
+	}
+
 	canRead, err := svePreApply(sv, args, args.Var)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err