diff --git a/src/glib_compat.h b/src/glib_compat.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..679307fb3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/glib_compat.h
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2003-2009 The Music Player Daemon Project
+ * http://www.musicpd.org
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+ * with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+ * 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+ */
+
+/*
+ * Compatibility with older GLib versions.  Some of this isn't
+ * implemented properly, just "good enough" to allow users with older
+ * operating systems to run MPD.
+ */
+
+#ifndef MPD_GLIB_COMPAT_H
+#define MPD_GLIB_COMPAT_H
+
+#include <glib.h>
+
+#if !GLIB_CHECK_VERSION(2,16,0)
+
+static char *
+g_uri_escape_string(const char *unescaped,
+		    G_GNUC_UNUSED const char *reserved_chars_allowed,
+		    G_GNUC_UNUSED gboolean allow_utf8)
+{
+	return g_strdup(unescaped);
+}
+
+#endif /* !2.16 */
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/playlist/lastfm_playlist_plugin.c b/src/playlist/lastfm_playlist_plugin.c
index d7de25375..70e51c2fc 100644
--- a/src/playlist/lastfm_playlist_plugin.c
+++ b/src/playlist/lastfm_playlist_plugin.c
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include "uri.h"
 #include "song.h"
 #include "input_stream.h"
+#include "glib_compat.h"
 
 #include <glib.h>
 
@@ -55,11 +56,7 @@ lastfm_init(const struct config_param *param)
 		return false;
 	}
 
-#if GLIB_CHECK_VERSION(2,16,0)
 	lastfm_config.user = g_uri_escape_string(user, NULL, false);
-#else
-	lastfm_config.user = g_strdup(user);
-#endif
 
 #if GLIB_CHECK_VERSION(2,16,0)
 	if (strlen(passwd) != 32)
@@ -178,11 +175,9 @@ lastfm_open_uri(const char *uri)
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
-#if GLIB_CHECK_VERSION(2,16,0)
 	q = g_uri_escape_string(session, NULL, false);
 	g_free(session);
 	session = q;
-#endif
 
 	g_debug("session='%s'", session);
 
@@ -191,11 +186,7 @@ lastfm_open_uri(const char *uri)
 	if (strlen(uri) > 9) {
 		char *escaped_uri;
 
-#if GLIB_CHECK_VERSION(2,16,0)
 		escaped_uri = g_uri_escape_string(uri, NULL, false);
-#else
-		escaped_uri = g_strdup(uri);
-#endif
 
 		p = g_strconcat("http://ws.audioscrobbler.com/radio/adjust.php?"
 				"session=", session, "&url=", escaped_uri, "&debug=0",