diff --git a/lib/makara/connection_wrapper.rb b/lib/makara/connection_wrapper.rb
index 51ccf617..17749ab2 100644
--- a/lib/makara/connection_wrapper.rb
+++ b/lib/makara/connection_wrapper.rb
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ def _makara_blacklisted?
     end
 
     def _makara_in_transaction?
-      @connection && @connection.open_transactions > 0
+      @connection && @connection.respond_to?(:open_transactions) && @connection.open_transactions > 0
     end
 
     # blacklist this node for @config[:blacklist_duration] seconds