diff --git a/config/environment.rb b/config/environment.rb
index 4a6a212e..14a16e52 100644
--- a/config/environment.rb
+++ b/config/environment.rb
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 # Load the rails application
 require File.expand_path('../application', __FILE__)
 
-Encoding.default_external = Encoding::UTF_8
-Encoding.default_internal = Encoding::UTF_8
+if RUBY_VERSION.to_f >= 1.9
+  Encoding.default_external = Encoding::UTF_8
+  Encoding.default_internal = Encoding::UTF_8
+end
 
 # Initialize the rails application
 Tracksapp::Application.initialize!
\ No newline at end of file