diff --git a/flask/_compat.py b/flask/_compat.py
index b20e8abf..85aeee01 100644
--- a/flask/_compat.py
+++ b/flask/_compat.py
@@ -16,12 +16,16 @@ import sys
 PY2 = sys.version_info[0] == 2
 _identity = lambda x: x
 
-
-if not PY2:
+try:  # Python 2
+    text_type = unicode
+    string_types = (str, unicode)
+    integer_types = (int, long)
+except NameError:  # Python 3
     text_type = str
     string_types = (str,)
     integer_types = (int,)
 
+if not PY2:
     iterkeys = lambda d: iter(d.keys())
     itervalues = lambda d: iter(d.values())
     iteritems = lambda d: iter(d.items())
@@ -38,10 +42,6 @@ if not PY2:
     implements_to_string = _identity
 
 else:
-    text_type = unicode
-    string_types = (str, unicode)
-    integer_types = (int, long)
-
     iterkeys = lambda d: d.iterkeys()
     itervalues = lambda d: d.itervalues()
     iteritems = lambda d: d.iteritems()