diff --git a/cqlengine/tests/base.py b/cqlengine/tests/base.py
index dea0cc19..5bd66b64 100644
--- a/cqlengine/tests/base.py
+++ b/cqlengine/tests/base.py
@@ -4,7 +4,10 @@ import sys
 import six
 from cqlengine.connection import get_session
 
+
 CASSANDRA_VERSION = int(os.environ['CASSANDRA_VERSION'])
+PROTOCOL_VERSION = 1 if CASSANDRA_VERSION < 20 else 2
+
 
 class BaseCassEngTestCase(TestCase):
 
diff --git a/cqlengine/tests/columns/test_static_column.py b/cqlengine/tests/columns/test_static_column.py
index 34c553dc..e8cfdedb 100644
--- a/cqlengine/tests/columns/test_static_column.py
+++ b/cqlengine/tests/columns/test_static_column.py
@@ -4,10 +4,9 @@ from cqlengine import Model
 from cqlengine import columns
 from cqlengine.management import sync_table, drop_table
 from cqlengine.models import ModelDefinitionException
-from cqlengine.tests.base import BaseCassEngTestCase, CASSANDRA_VERSION
-from cqlengine.connection import get_cluster
+from cqlengine.tests.base import BaseCassEngTestCase
+from cqlengine.tests.base import CASSANDRA_VERSION, PROTOCOL_VERSION
 
-cluster = get_cluster()
 
 class TestStaticModel(Model):
     __keyspace__ = 'test'
@@ -31,7 +30,7 @@ class TestStaticColumn(BaseCassEngTestCase):
         super(TestStaticColumn, cls).tearDownClass()
         drop_table(TestStaticModel)
 
-    @skipUnless(cluster.protocol_version >= 2, "only runs against the cql3 protocol v2.0")
+    @skipUnless(PROTOCOL_VERSION >= 2, "only runs against the cql3 protocol v2.0")
     def test_mixed_updates(self):
         """ Tests that updates on both static and non-static columns work as intended """
         instance = TestStaticModel.create()
@@ -47,7 +46,7 @@ class TestStaticColumn(BaseCassEngTestCase):
         
         assert actual.static == "it's still shared"
 
-    @skipUnless(cluster.protocol_version >= 2, "only runs against the cql3 protocol v2.0")
+    @skipUnless(PROTOCOL_VERSION >= 2, "only runs against the cql3 protocol v2.0")
     def test_static_only_updates(self):
         """ Tests that updates on static only column work as intended """
         instance = TestStaticModel.create()
diff --git a/cqlengine/tests/management/test_management.py b/cqlengine/tests/management/test_management.py
index 3bda88ed..55258e52 100644
--- a/cqlengine/tests/management/test_management.py
+++ b/cqlengine/tests/management/test_management.py
@@ -3,14 +3,14 @@ from cqlengine import ALL, CACHING_ALL, CACHING_NONE
 from cqlengine.connection import get_session
 from cqlengine.exceptions import CQLEngineException
 from cqlengine.management import  get_fields, sync_table, drop_table
-from cqlengine.tests.base import BaseCassEngTestCase, CASSANDRA_VERSION
+from cqlengine.tests.base import BaseCassEngTestCase
+from cqlengine.tests.base import CASSANDRA_VERSION, PROTOCOL_VERSION
 from cqlengine import management
 from cqlengine.tests.query.test_queryset import TestModel
 from cqlengine.models import Model
 from cqlengine import columns, SizeTieredCompactionStrategy, LeveledCompactionStrategy
 from unittest import skipUnless
-from cqlengine.connection import get_cluster
-cluster = get_cluster()
+
 
 class CreateKeyspaceTest(BaseCassEngTestCase):
     def test_create_succeeeds(self):
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ class NonModelFailureTest(BaseCassEngTestCase):
             sync_table(self.FakeModel)
 
 
-@skipUnless(cluster.protocol_version >= 2, "only runs against the cql3 protocol v2.0")
+@skipUnless(PROTOCOL_VERSION >= 2, "only runs against the cql3 protocol v2.0")
 def test_static_columns():
     class StaticModel(Model):
         id = columns.Integer(primary_key=True)
diff --git a/cqlengine/tests/query/test_queryset.py b/cqlengine/tests/query/test_queryset.py
index 00b1be49..8383ccdf 100644
--- a/cqlengine/tests/query/test_queryset.py
+++ b/cqlengine/tests/query/test_queryset.py
@@ -20,10 +20,8 @@ from datetime import tzinfo
 from cqlengine import statements
 from cqlengine import operators
 
-
-from cqlengine.connection import get_cluster, get_session
-
-cluster = get_cluster()
+from cqlengine.connection import get_session
+from cqlengine.tests.base import PROTOCOL_VERSION
 
 
 class TzOffset(tzinfo):
@@ -690,7 +688,7 @@ class TestObjectsProperty(BaseQuerySetUsage):
         assert TestModel.objects._result_cache is None
 
 
-@skipUnless(cluster.protocol_version >= 2, "only runs against the cql3 protocol v2.0")
+@skipUnless(PROTOCOL_VERSION >= 2, "only runs against the cql3 protocol v2.0")
 def test_paged_result_handling():
     # addresses #225
     class PagingTest(Model):
diff --git a/cqlengine/tests/test_ifnotexists.py b/cqlengine/tests/test_ifnotexists.py
index 202a1c03..6749ae88 100644
--- a/cqlengine/tests/test_ifnotexists.py
+++ b/cqlengine/tests/test_ifnotexists.py
@@ -1,14 +1,12 @@
 from unittest import skipUnless
 from cqlengine.management import sync_table, drop_table, create_keyspace, delete_keyspace
 from cqlengine.tests.base import BaseCassEngTestCase
+from cqlengine.tests.base import PROTOCOL_VERSION
 from cqlengine.models import Model
 from cqlengine.exceptions import LWTException
 from cqlengine import columns, BatchQuery
 from uuid import uuid4
 import mock
-from cqlengine.connection import get_cluster
-
-cluster = get_cluster()
 
 
 class TestIfNotExistsModel(Model):
@@ -43,7 +41,7 @@ class BaseIfNotExistsTest(BaseCassEngTestCase):
 
 class IfNotExistsInsertTests(BaseIfNotExistsTest):
 
-    @skipUnless(cluster.protocol_version >= 2, "only runs against the cql3 protocol v2.0")
+    @skipUnless(PROTOCOL_VERSION >= 2, "only runs against the cql3 protocol v2.0")
     def test_insert_if_not_exists_success(self):
         """ tests that insertion with if_not_exists work as expected """
 
@@ -77,7 +75,7 @@ class IfNotExistsInsertTests(BaseIfNotExistsTest):
         self.assertEquals(tm.count, 9)
         self.assertEquals(tm.text, '111111111111')
 
-    @skipUnless(cluster.protocol_version >= 2, "only runs against the cql3 protocol v2.0")
+    @skipUnless(PROTOCOL_VERSION >= 2, "only runs against the cql3 protocol v2.0")
     def test_batch_insert_if_not_exists_success(self):
         """ tests that batch insertion with if_not_exists work as expected """