diff --git a/cassandra/connection.py b/cassandra/connection.py
index 17fc39a7..a03b1655 100644
--- a/cassandra/connection.py
+++ b/cassandra/connection.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ from cassandra.marshal import int8_unpack
 from cassandra.decoder import (ReadyMessage, AuthenticateMessage, OptionsMessage,
                                StartupMessage, ErrorMessage, CredentialsMessage,
                                QueryMessage, ResultMessage, decode_response,
-                               InvalidRequestException)
+                               InvalidRequestException, SupportedMessage)
 
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -194,6 +194,11 @@ class Connection(object):
     def _handle_options_response(self, options_response):
         if self.is_defunct:
             return
+
+        if not isinstance(options_response, SupportedMessage):
+            log.error("Did not get expected SupportedMessage response; instead, got: %s", options_response)
+            return
+
         log.debug("Received options response on new Connection from %s" % self.host)
         self.supported_cql_versions = options_response.cql_versions
         self.remote_supported_compressions = options_response.options['COMPRESSION']
diff --git a/tests/unit/io/test_libevreactor.py b/tests/unit/io/test_libevreactor.py
index 7ff9c923..6952e2ef 100644
--- a/tests/unit/io/test_libevreactor.py
+++ b/tests/unit/io/test_libevreactor.py
@@ -91,10 +91,7 @@ class LibevConnectionTest(unittest.TestCase):
         # make sure it errored correctly
         self.assertTrue(c.is_defunct)
         self.assertTrue(c.connected_event.is_set())
-        try:
-            self.assertTrue(isinstance(c.last_error, ProtocolError))
-        except AssertionError:
-            self.assertTrue(isinstance(c.last_error, AttributeError))
+        self.assertTrue(isinstance(c.last_error, ProtocolError))
 
     def test_error_message_on_startup(self, *args):
         c = self.make_connection()