diff --git a/mrblib/kernel.rb b/mrblib/kernel.rb
index 0277a1b83..fcfe40e3f 100644
--- a/mrblib/kernel.rb
+++ b/mrblib/kernel.rb
@@ -49,3 +49,5 @@ module Kernel
     !(self =~ y)
   end
 end
+
+RUBY_VERSION = "1.9"