diff --git a/include/sqlpp11/mysql/detail/connection_handle.h b/include/sqlpp11/mysql/detail/connection_handle.h
index f7f34c00e..43b66a79f 100644
--- a/include/sqlpp11/mysql/detail/connection_handle.h
+++ b/include/sqlpp11/mysql/detail/connection_handle.h
@@ -79,7 +79,18 @@ namespace sqlpp
             throw sqlpp::exception{"MySQL: could not init mysql data structure"};
           }
 
+#if MYSQL_VERSION_ID < 80034
+          if (config->auto_reconnect)
+          {
+            my_bool my_true{true};
+            if (mysql_options(native_handle(), MYSQL_OPT_RECONNECT, &my_true))
+            {
+              throw sqlpp::exception{"MySQL: could not set option MYSQL_OPT_RECONNECT"};
+            }
+          }
+#else
           mysql->reconnect = config->auto_reconnect
+#endif
 
           connect(native_handle(), *config);
         }