diff --git a/runshell.py b/runshell.py
index 63de92e..6051442 100755
--- a/runshell.py
+++ b/runshell.py
@@ -1,12 +1,17 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 import os
 import sys
+import django
 from django.core.management import execute_from_command_line
 
 
 def runshell():
     os.environ.setdefault("DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE", "tests.settings")
-    execute_from_command_line(sys.argv[:1] + ['migrate', '--noinput', '-v', '0'])
+    execute_from_command_line(
+        sys.argv[:1] +
+        ['migrate', '--noinput', '-v', '0'] +
+        (['--run-syncdb'] if django.VERSION >= (1, 9) else []))
+
     argv = sys.argv[:1] + ['shell'] + sys.argv[1:]
     execute_from_command_line(argv)