diff --git a/owners.py b/owners.py
index 18dd311537..5aabb60077 100644
--- a/owners.py
+++ b/owners.py
@@ -17,9 +17,10 @@ BASIC_EMAIL_REGEXP = r'^[\w\-\+\%\.]+\@[\w\-\+\%\.]+$'
 
 
 def _assert_is_collection(obj):
-  assert (isinstance(obj, collections.Iterable) and
-          isinstance(obj, collections.Sized) and
-          not isinstance(obj, basestring))
+  assert not isinstance(obj, basestring)
+  if hasattr(collections, 'Iterable') and hasattr(collections, 'Sized'):
+    assert (isinstance(obj, collections.Iterable) and
+            isinstance(obj, collections.Sized))
 
 
 class SyntaxErrorInOwnersFile(Exception):
diff --git a/tests/owners_unittest.py b/tests/owners_unittest.py
index 1ac7a5e202..92029bc60f 100755
--- a/tests/owners_unittest.py
+++ b/tests/owners_unittest.py
@@ -109,8 +109,9 @@ class OwnersDatabaseTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
     # Check that we're passed in a sequence that isn't a string.
     self.assertRaises(AssertionError, db.files_not_covered_by, 'foo', [])
-    self.assertRaises(AssertionError, db.files_not_covered_by,
-                      (f for f in ['x', 'y']), [])
+    if hasattr(owners.collections, 'Iterable'):
+      self.assertRaises(AssertionError, db.files_not_covered_by,
+                        (f for f in ['x', 'y']), [])
 
     # Check that the files are under the root.
     db.root = '/checkout'
@@ -139,7 +140,9 @@ class OwnersDatabaseTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
     # Check that we're passed in a sequence that isn't a string.
     self.assertRaises(AssertionError, db.reviewers_for, 'foo')
-    self.assertRaises(AssertionError, db.reviewers_for, (f for f in ['x', 'y']))
+    if hasattr(owners.collections, 'Iterable'):
+      self.assertRaises(AssertionError, db.reviewers_for,
+                        (f for f in ['x', 'y']))
 
     # Check that the files are under the root.
     db.root = '/checkout'