diff --git a/model_utils/tests/fields.py b/model_utils/tests/fields.py
index 3f1503a..7c29aa4 100644
--- a/model_utils/tests/fields.py
+++ b/model_utils/tests/fields.py
@@ -1,26 +1,43 @@
+import django
 from django.db import models
 from django.utils.six import with_metaclass, string_types
 
 
-class MutableField(with_metaclass(models.SubfieldBase, models.TextField)):
+def mutable_from_db(value):
+    if value == '':
+        return None
+    try:
+        if isinstance(value, string_types):
+            return [int(i) for i in value.split(',')]
+    except ValueError:
+        pass
+    return value
 
-    def to_python(self, value):
-        if value == '':
-            return None
 
-        try:
-            if isinstance(value, string_types):
-                return [int(i) for i in value.split(',')]
-        except ValueError:
-            pass
+def mutable_to_db(value):
+    if value is None:
+        return ''
+    if isinstance(value, list):
+        value = ','.join((str(i) for i in value))
+    return str(value)
 
-        return value
 
-    def get_db_prep_save(self, value, connection):
-        if value is None:
-            return ''
+if django.VERSION >= (1, 9, 0):
+    class MutableField(models.TextField):
+        def to_python(self, value):
+            return mutable_from_db(value)
 
-        if isinstance(value, list):
-            value = ','.join((str(i) for i in value))
+        def from_db_value(self, value, expression, connection, context):
+            return mutable_from_db(value)
 
-        return super(MutableField, self).get_db_prep_save(value, connection)
+        def get_db_prep_save(self, value, connection):
+            value = super(MutableField, self).get_db_prep_save(value, connection)
+            return mutable_to_db(value)
+else:
+    class MutableField(with_metaclass(models.SubfieldBase, models.TextField)):
+        def to_python(self, value):
+            return mutable_from_db(value)
+
+        def get_db_prep_save(self, value, connection):
+            value = mutable_to_db(value)
+            return super(MutableField, self).get_db_prep_save(value, connection)
diff --git a/model_utils/tests/models.py b/model_utils/tests/models.py
index b1903ed..6b82541 100644
--- a/model_utils/tests/models.py
+++ b/model_utils/tests/models.py
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ class FeaturedManager(models.Manager):
 class Tracked(models.Model):
     name = models.CharField(max_length=20)
     number = models.IntegerField()
-    mutable = MutableField()
+    mutable = MutableField(default=None)
 
     tracker = FieldTracker()
 
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ class InheritedTracked(Tracked):
 class ModelTracked(models.Model):
     name = models.CharField(max_length=20)
     number = models.IntegerField()
-    mutable = MutableField()
+    mutable = MutableField(default=None)
 
     tracker = ModelTracker()