diff --git a/mongoengine/django/sessions.py b/mongoengine/django/sessions.py
index c90807e5..7e4e182f 100644
--- a/mongoengine/django/sessions.py
+++ b/mongoengine/django/sessions.py
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.contrib.sessions.backends.base import SessionBase, CreateError
 from django.core.exceptions import SuspiciousOperation
-from django.utils.encoding import force_unicode
+try:
+    from django.utils.encoding import force_unicode
+except ImportError:
+    from django.utils.encoding import force_text as force_unicode
 
 from mongoengine.document import Document
 from mongoengine import fields