diff --git a/pkg/kgo/source.go b/pkg/kgo/source.go
index ae262b6c..ea2240cd 100644
--- a/pkg/kgo/source.go
+++ b/pkg/kgo/source.go
@@ -575,7 +575,11 @@ func (s *source) fetch(consumerSession *consumerSession, doneFetch chan<- struct
 		return
 	}
 
-	if resp.SessionID > 0 {
+	if resp.Version < 7 {
+		// If the version is less than 7, we cannot use fetch sessions,
+		// so we kill them on the first response.
+		s.session.kill()
+	} else if resp.SessionID > 0 {
 		s.session.bumpEpoch(resp.SessionID)
 	}