diff --git a/checkin_notes b/checkin_notes
index 2043d24c06..f0211da46e 100755
--- a/checkin_notes
+++ b/checkin_notes
@@ -19373,6 +19373,7 @@ Bruce Allen 13 Nov 2004
     - Fixed links at bottom of workunits page, showing outcomes of results.
     - Added tabular description of tables to the database form page, longer clause box
     - Added fix (commented out) to get pictures for systems without TrueColor support (GD v 2)
+    - Fix to db_action.inc so it works under PHP<4.3.0
     html/ops/
       cancel_wu.php  (removed)
       cancel_wu_form.php
@@ -19382,3 +19383,4 @@ Bruce Allen 13 Nov 2004
     html/inc/
       db_ops.inc  
       profile.inc
+      db_action.inc
diff --git a/html/ops/db_action.php b/html/ops/db_action.php
index 60533c63f9..59b26a0cf8 100644
--- a/html/ops/db_action.php
+++ b/html/ops/db_action.php
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <?php
     require_once("../inc/util_ops.inc");
     require_once("../inc/db_ops.inc");
+    echo "<!--\$Id$ -->\n";
 
     function append_sql_query($original,$addition,$first) {
         if ($first == 1) {
@@ -114,7 +115,17 @@
             ";
         }
     }
-    $result = mysql_query(mysql_real_escape_string($main_query));
+
+if (1) {
+    // valid for PHP>=4.3.0, 5.  If there is a run-time php_version() function please use it
+    // instead of this hack!
+    $escapehell=mysql_real_escape_string($main_query);
+} else {
+    $escapehell=str_replace("\'", "'", $main_query);
+    $escapehell=str_replace("\\\"", "'", $escapehell);
+}
+
+    $result = mysql_query($escapehell);
     if ($result) {
         if ($detail == "low") {
             start_table();