diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 0ab2771..dd13408 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -158,6 +158,8 @@ Common parameters:
                         migrations are run against. This option must be used
                         in conjuction with the -k option. This option is
                         ignored unless the -s option is provided.
+  --protocol-version PROTOCOL_VERSION
+                        Protocol version used to connect to Cassandra.
   -y, --assume-yes      Automatically answer "yes" for all questions
 
 migrate
diff --git a/cassandra_migrate/cli.py b/cassandra_migrate/cli.py
index 634b45a..0754761 100644
--- a/cassandra_migrate/cli.py
+++ b/cassandra_migrate/cli.py
@@ -70,6 +70,9 @@ def main():
                         migrations are run against. This option must be used in
                         conjuction with the -k option. This option is ignored
                         unless the -s option is provided.""")
+    parser.add_argument('--protocol-version', type=int, default=None,
+                        choices=range(1, 6),
+                        help='Protocol version used to connect to Cassandra.')
     parser.add_argument('-y', '--assume-yes', action='store_true',
                         help='Automatically answer "yes" for all questions')
 
@@ -139,7 +142,8 @@ def main():
                       user=opts.user, password=opts.password,
                       host_cert_path=opts.ssl_cert,
                       client_key_path=opts.ssl_client_private_key,
-                      client_cert_path=opts.ssl_client_cert) as migrator:
+                      client_cert_path=opts.ssl_client_cert,
+                      protocol_version=opts.protocol_version) as migrator:
             cmd_method = getattr(migrator, opts.action)
             if not callable(cmd_method):
                 print('Error: invalid command', file=sys.stderr)
diff --git a/cassandra_migrate/migrator.py b/cassandra_migrate/migrator.py
index 2db6d9e..6c4f78b 100644
--- a/cassandra_migrate/migrator.py
+++ b/cassandra_migrate/migrator.py
@@ -53,6 +53,12 @@
 VALUES (%s, %s, %s, %s, %s, %s, toTimestamp(now())) IF NOT EXISTS
 """
 
+CREATE_DB_VERSION_PROTOCOL_3 = """
+INSERT INTO "{keyspace}"."{table}"
+(id, version, name, content, checksum, state, applied_at)
+VALUES (%s, %s, %s, %s, %s, %s, dateof(now())) IF NOT EXISTS
+"""
+
 FINALIZE_DB_VERSION = """
 UPDATE "{keyspace}"."{table}" SET state = %s WHERE id = %s IF state = %s
 """
@@ -116,7 +122,8 @@ class Migrator(object):
 
     def __init__(self, config, profile='dev', hosts=['127.0.0.1'], port=9042,
                  user=None, password=None, host_cert_path=None,
-                 client_key_path=None, client_cert_path=None):
+                 client_key_path=None, client_cert_path=None,
+                 protocol_version=None):
         self.config = config
 
         try:
@@ -137,14 +144,21 @@ def __init__(self, config, profile='dev', hosts=['127.0.0.1'], port=9042,
         else:
             ssl_options = None
 
-        self.cluster = Cluster(
-            contact_points=hosts,
-            port=port,
-            auth_provider=auth_provider,
-            max_schema_agreement_wait=300,
-            control_connection_timeout=10,
-            connect_timeout=30,
-            ssl_options=ssl_options)
+        cluster_kwargs = {
+            "contact_points": hosts,
+            "port": port,
+            "auth_provider": auth_provider,
+            "max_schema_agreement_wait": 300,
+            "control_connection_timeout": 10,
+            "connect_timeout": 30,
+            "ssl_options": ssl_options,
+        }
+        # Cluster defaults `protocol_version` to `cluster._NOT_SET`
+        # Only pass it to `Cluster` if it has been set, otherwise let it use
+        # its default
+        if protocol_version is not None:
+            cluster_kwargs["protocol_version"] = protocol_version
+        self.cluster = Cluster(**cluster_kwargs)
 
         self._session = None
 
@@ -377,8 +391,15 @@ def _create_version(self, version, migration):
             version, migration))
 
         version_id = uuid.uuid4()
+
+        # Cassandra versions below 2.2 use protocol 3 and use `dateof` instead
+        # of `toTimestamp`
+        if self.cluster.protocol_version <= 3:
+            statement = CREATE_DB_VERSION_PROTOCOL_3
+        else:
+            statement = CREATE_DB_VERSION
         result = self._execute(
-            self._q(CREATE_DB_VERSION),
+            self._q(statement),
             (version_id, version, migration.name, migration.content,
              bytearray(migration.checksum), Migration.State.IN_PROGRESS))