diff --git a/compressor/settings.py b/compressor/settings.py
index 4134847408d..f0d6c6140be 100644
--- a/compressor/settings.py
+++ b/compressor/settings.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import os
 
+from django import VERSION as DJANGO_VERSION
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.core.exceptions import ImproperlyConfigured
 
@@ -105,7 +106,7 @@ def configure_url(self, value):
     def configure_cache_backend(self, value):
         if value is None:
             # If we are on Django 1.3 AND using the new CACHES setting...
-            if getattr(settings, "CACHES", None):
+            if getattr(settings, "CACHES", None) and DJANGO_VERSION[:2] >= (1, 3):
                 return "default"
             # fallback for people still using the old CACHE_BACKEND setting
             return settings.CACHE_BACKEND