diff --git a/lib/rspec/support.rb b/lib/rspec/support.rb
index bb59726a..1ac05b9c 100644
--- a/lib/rspec/support.rb
+++ b/lib/rspec/support.rb
@@ -99,8 +99,14 @@ def self.class_of(object)
     end
 
     # A single thread local variable so we don't excessively pollute that namespace.
-    def self.thread_local_data
-      Thread.__rspec_current_thread.__rspec_local_data ||= {}
+    if RUBY_VERSION.to_f >= 2
+      def self.thread_local_data
+        Thread.__rspec_current_thread.__rspec_local_data ||= {}
+      end
+    else
+      def self.thread_local_data
+        Thread.current[:__rspec] ||= {}
+      end
     end
 
     # @api private