diff --git a/model_utils/models.py b/model_utils/models.py
index 8030bea..94d2077 100644
--- a/model_utils/models.py
+++ b/model_utils/models.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ class TimeFramedModel(models.Model):
     class Meta:
         abstract = True
 
+
 class StatusModel(models.Model):
     """
     An abstract base class model with a ``status`` field that
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@ class StatusModel(models.Model):
     class Meta:
         abstract = True
 
+
 def add_status_query_managers(sender, **kwargs):
     """
     Add a Querymanager for each status item dynamically.
@@ -59,16 +61,15 @@ def add_status_query_managers(sender, **kwargs):
     if not issubclass(sender, StatusModel):
         return
     for value, display in getattr(sender, 'STATUS', ()):
-        try:
-            sender._meta.get_field(value)
-            raise ImproperlyConfigured("StatusModel: Model '%s' has a field "
-                                       "named '%s' which conflicts with a "
-                                       "status of the same name."
-                                       % (sender.__name__, value))
-        except FieldDoesNotExist:
-            pass
+        if _field_exists(sender, value):
+            raise ImproperlyConfigured(
+                "StatusModel: Model '%s' has a field named '%s' which "
+                "conflicts with a status of the same name."
+                % (sender.__name__, value)
+            )
         sender.add_to_class(value, QueryManager(status=value))
 
+
 def add_timeframed_query_manager(sender, **kwargs):
     """
     Add a QueryManager for a specific timeframe.
@@ -76,14 +77,12 @@ def add_timeframed_query_manager(sender, **kwargs):
     """
     if not issubclass(sender, TimeFramedModel):
         return
-    try:
-        sender._meta.get_field('timeframed')
-        raise ImproperlyConfigured("Model '%s' has a field named "
-                                   "'timeframed' which conflicts with "
-                                   "the TimeFramedModel manager."
-                                   % sender.__name__)
-    except FieldDoesNotExist:
-        pass
+    if _field_exists(sender, 'timeframed'):
+        raise ImproperlyConfigured(
+            "Model '%s' has a field named 'timeframed' "
+            "which conflicts with the TimeFramedModel manager."
+            % sender.__name__
+        )
     sender.add_to_class('timeframed', QueryManager(
         (models.Q(start__lte=now) | models.Q(start__isnull=True)) &
         (models.Q(end__gte=now) | models.Q(end__isnull=True))
@@ -92,3 +91,21 @@ def add_timeframed_query_manager(sender, **kwargs):
 
 models.signals.class_prepared.connect(add_status_query_managers)
 models.signals.class_prepared.connect(add_timeframed_query_manager)
+
+
+def _field_exists(model_class, field_name):
+    if hasattr(model_class._meta, '_get_fields'):
+        # Django 1.8+
+        field_exists = bool([
+            f for f in model_class._meta._get_fields(reverse=False)
+            if f.name == field_name
+        ])
+    else:
+        # Django 1.7 and previous
+        try:
+            model_class._meta.get_field(field_name)
+        except FieldDoesNotExist:
+            field_exists = False
+        else:
+            field_exists = True
+    return field_exists