diff --git a/mako/compat.py b/mako/compat.py
index db22b99..a2ab243 100644
--- a/mako/compat.py
+++ b/mako/compat.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 py33 = sys.version_info >= (3, 3)
 py2k = sys.version_info < (3,)
 py26 = sys.version_info >= (2, 6)
+py27 = sys.version_info >= (2, 7)
 jython = sys.platform.startswith('java')
 win32 = sys.platform.startswith('win')
 pypy = hasattr(sys, 'pypy_version_info')
diff --git a/test/test_cache.py b/test/test_cache.py
index f37042f..990a088 100644
--- a/test/test_cache.py
+++ b/test/test_cache.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 from test.util import result_lines
 from test import TemplateTest, module_base
 from test import eq_, SkipTest
-
+from mako.compat import py27
 
 from mako.ext import beaker_cache
 
@@ -603,6 +603,8 @@
     def setUp(self):
         if not beaker_cache.has_beaker:
             raise SkipTest("Beaker is required for these tests.")
+        if not py27:
+            raise SkipTest("newer beakers not working w/ py26")
 
     def _install_mock_cache(self, template, implname=None):
         template.cache_args['manager'] = self._regions()