diff --git a/export.py b/export.py
index 6cf1db2c4..a0cb5fdc5 100644
--- a/export.py
+++ b/export.py
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ from models.experimental import attempt_load
 from models.yolo import Detect
 from utils.activations import SiLU
 from utils.datasets import LoadImages
-from utils.general import (LOGGER, check_dataset, check_img_size, check_requirements, colorstr, file_size, print_args,
-                           url2file)
+from utils.general import (LOGGER, check_dataset, check_img_size, check_requirements, check_version, colorstr,
+                           file_size, print_args, url2file)
 from utils.torch_utils import select_device
 
 
@@ -174,14 +174,14 @@ def export_engine(model, im, file, train, half, simplify, workspace=4, verbose=F
         check_requirements(('tensorrt',))
         import tensorrt as trt
 
-        opset = (12, 13)[trt.__version__[0] == '8']  # test on TensorRT 7.x and 8.x
-        if opset == 12:  # TensorRT 7 handling https://github.com/ultralytics/yolov5/issues/6012
+        if trt.__version__[0] == 7:  # TensorRT 7 handling https://github.com/ultralytics/yolov5/issues/6012
             grid = model.model[-1].anchor_grid
             model.model[-1].anchor_grid = [a[..., :1, :1, :] for a in grid]
-            export_onnx(model, im, file, opset, train, False, simplify)
+            export_onnx(model, im, file, 12, train, False, simplify)  # opset 12
             model.model[-1].anchor_grid = grid
         else:  # TensorRT >= 8
-            export_onnx(model, im, file, opset, train, False, simplify)
+            check_version(trt.__version__, '7.0.0', hard=True)  # require tensorrt>=8.0.0
+            export_onnx(model, im, file, 13, train, False, simplify)  # opset 13
         onnx = file.with_suffix('.onnx')
         assert onnx.exists(), f'failed to export ONNX file: {onnx}'
 
diff --git a/models/common.py b/models/common.py
index 284dd2bb3..836314568 100644
--- a/models/common.py
+++ b/models/common.py
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ class DetectMultiBackend(nn.Module):
         elif engine:  # TensorRT
             LOGGER.info(f'Loading {w} for TensorRT inference...')
             import tensorrt as trt  # https://developer.nvidia.com/nvidia-tensorrt-download
-            check_version(trt.__version__, '8.0.0', verbose=True)  # version requirement
+            check_version(trt.__version__, '7.0.0', hard=True)  # require tensorrt>=7.0.0
             Binding = namedtuple('Binding', ('name', 'dtype', 'shape', 'data', 'ptr'))
             logger = trt.Logger(trt.Logger.INFO)
             with open(w, 'rb') as f, trt.Runtime(logger) as runtime: