diff --git a/emit.php b/emit.php
index 0c78cf7..3b205c4 100644
--- a/emit.php
+++ b/emit.php
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ if (is_array($data)) {
       continue;
     }
     $storage = new $class();
-    if ($class::REQUIRE_BOOTSTRAP) {
+    if ($storage->requiresBootstrap()) {
       // verify boostrapping
       _radioactivity_require_bootstrapping();
     }
diff --git a/includes/RadioactivityIncidentStorage.inc b/includes/RadioactivityIncidentStorage.inc
index 64dfb23..f46272e 100644
--- a/includes/RadioactivityIncidentStorage.inc
+++ b/includes/RadioactivityIncidentStorage.inc
@@ -67,6 +67,13 @@ class RadioactivityIncidentStorage {
     return radioactivity_decay_profile_load($this->settings['profile']);
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Accessor for the const for PHP < 5.2
+   */
+  public function requiresBootstrap() {
+    return self::REQUIRE_BOOTSTRAP;
+  }
+
 }