diff --git a/lib/native/index.js b/lib/native/index.js
index f89740db..efb37bfa 100644
--- a/lib/native/index.js
+++ b/lib/native/index.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ var EventEmitter = require('events').EventEmitter;
 var ConnectionParameters = require(__dirname + '/../connection-parameters');
 var CopyFromStream = require(__dirname + '/../copystream').CopyFromStream;
 var CopyToStream = require(__dirname + '/../copystream').CopyToStream;
+var JsClient = require(__dirname + '/../client'); // used to import JS escape functions
 
 var binding;
 
@@ -80,6 +81,15 @@ Connection.prototype.endCopyFrom = function (msg) {
   this._endCopyFrom(msg);
 };
 
+// use JS version if native version undefined
+// happens when PG version < 9.0.0
+if (!Connection.prototype.escapeIdentifier) {
+  Connection.prototype.escapeIdentifier = JsClient.prototype.escapeIdentifier;
+}
+if (!Connection.prototype.escapeLiteral) {
+  Connection.prototype.escapeLiteral = JsClient.prototype.escapeLiteral;
+}
+
 Connection.prototype.query = function(config, values, callback) {
   var query = (config instanceof NativeQuery) ? config :
       new NativeQuery(config, values, callback);
diff --git a/src/binding.cc b/src/binding.cc
index 7a2364be..6081171d 100644
--- a/src/binding.cc
+++ b/src/binding.cc
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@
 #define LOG(msg) printf("%s\n",msg);
 #define TRACE(msg) //printf("%s\n", msg);
 
+#if PG_VERSION_NUM > 90000
+#define ESCAPE_SUPPORTED
+#endif
 
 #define THROW(msg) return ThrowException(Exception::Error(String::New(msg)));
 
@@ -67,8 +70,10 @@ public:
     command_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("command");
 
     NODE_SET_PROTOTYPE_METHOD(t, "connect", Connect);
+#ifdef ESCAPE_SUPPORTED
     NODE_SET_PROTOTYPE_METHOD(t, "escapeIdentifier", EscapeIdentifier);
     NODE_SET_PROTOTYPE_METHOD(t, "escapeLiteral", EscapeLiteral);
+#endif
     NODE_SET_PROTOTYPE_METHOD(t, "_sendQuery", SendQuery);
     NODE_SET_PROTOTYPE_METHOD(t, "_sendQueryWithParams", SendQueryWithParams);
     NODE_SET_PROTOTYPE_METHOD(t, "_sendPrepare", SendPrepare);
@@ -132,6 +137,7 @@ public:
     return Undefined();
   }
 
+#ifdef ESCAPE_SUPPORTED
   //v8 entry point into Connection#escapeIdentifier
   static Handle<Value>
   EscapeIdentifier(const Arguments& args)
@@ -183,6 +189,7 @@ public:
 
     return scope.Close(jsStr);
   }
+#endif
 
   //v8 entry point into Connection#_sendQuery
   static Handle<Value>
@@ -361,6 +368,7 @@ protected:
     return args.This();
   }
 
+#ifdef ESCAPE_SUPPORTED
   char * EscapeIdentifier(const char *str)
   {
     TRACE("js::EscapeIdentifier")
@@ -372,6 +380,7 @@ protected:
     TRACE("js::EscapeLiteral")
     return PQescapeLiteral(connection_, str, strlen(str));
   }
+#endif
 
   int Send(const char *queryText)
   {