diff --git a/lib/sidekiq/cli.rb b/lib/sidekiq/cli.rb
index 4d48267f..c8c050c2 100644
--- a/lib/sidekiq/cli.rb
+++ b/lib/sidekiq/cli.rb
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ module Sidekiq
     end
 
     def rails_app?
-      defined?(::Rails)
+      defined?(::Rails) && ::Rails.respond_to?(:application)
     end
   end
 end