diff --git a/homeassistant/components/mqtt/__init__.py b/homeassistant/components/mqtt/__init__.py
index b5ea258c5cc..86dce3d511b 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/mqtt/__init__.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/mqtt/__init__.py
@@ -149,9 +149,9 @@ class MQTT(object):
         }
 
         if client_id is None:
-            self._mqttc = mqtt.Client()
+            self._mqttc = mqtt.Client(protocol=mqtt.MQTTv311)
         else:
-            self._mqttc = mqtt.Client(client_id)
+            self._mqttc = mqtt.Client(client_id, protocol=mqtt.MQTTv311)
 
         self._mqttc.user_data_set(self.userdata)