diff --git a/cpp/utils.cc b/cpp/utils.cc
index 86ea54c..e2702af 100644
--- a/cpp/utils.cc
+++ b/cpp/utils.cc
@@ -9,7 +9,10 @@
 #include <a8/mutable_xobject.h>
 
 #include <google/protobuf/message.h>
+#include <google/protobuf/stubs/common.h>
+#if GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_VERSION > 2005000
 #include <google/protobuf/util/json_util.h>
+#endif
 
 #include "framework/cpp/utils.h"
 
@@ -535,11 +538,15 @@ namespace f8
     std::string PbToJson(google::protobuf::Message* pbmsg)
     {
         std::string json;
+#if GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_VERSION > 2005000
         google::protobuf::util::JsonPrintOptions options;
         options.add_whitespace = true;
         options.always_print_primitive_fields = true;
         options.preserve_proto_field_names = true;
         MessageToJsonString(*pbmsg, &json, options).ok();
+#else
+        json = "{}";
+#endif
         return json;
     }