diff --git a/lib/haml/util.rb b/lib/haml/util.rb
index 7b8ae8c4..2a7b0774 100755
--- a/lib/haml/util.rb
+++ b/lib/haml/util.rb
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ module Haml
     # @api public
     RUBY_ENGINE = defined?(::RUBY_ENGINE) ? ::RUBY_ENGINE : "ruby"
 
+    @@version_comparison_cache = {}
+
     # Returns the path of a file relative to the Haml root directory.
     #
     # @param file [String] The filename relative to the Haml root
@@ -266,9 +268,8 @@ module Haml
     # @param v2 [String] Another version string.
     # @return [Boolean]    
     def version_geq(v1, v2)
-      @@version_comparison_cache ||= {}
       k = "#{v1}#{v2}"
-      return @@version_comparison_cache[k] unless @@version_comparison_cache[k].nil?
+      return @@version_comparison_cache.fetch(k) if @@version_comparison_cache.key?(k)
       @@version_comparison_cache[k] = ( version_gt(v1, v2) || !version_gt(v2, v1) )
     end