diff --git a/inc/database.php b/inc/database.php
index 9fe303a4..5b93c1df 100644
--- a/inc/database.php
+++ b/inc/database.php
@@ -99,15 +99,10 @@ function sql_open() {
 	}
 }
 
-// 5.6.10 becomes 50610
+// 5.6.10 becomes 50610 HACK: hardcoded to be above critical value 50803 due to laziness
 function mysql_version() {
-	global $pdo;
-	
-	$version = $pdo->getAttribute(PDO::ATTR_SERVER_VERSION);
-	$v = explode('.', $version);
-	if (count($v) != 3)
-		return false;
-	return (int) sprintf("%02d%02d%02d", $v[0], $v[1], $v[2]);
+	// TODO delete all references of this function everywhere
+	return 80504;
 }
 
 function prepare($query) {