diff --git a/sklearn/__init__.py b/sklearn/__init__.py
index f0195d00049dd8bf4161f93cfb3732da21fa7d92..e2d0883072bfe26de330e697ff666a4b2b8f3d85 100644
--- a/sklearn/__init__.py
+++ b/sklearn/__init__.py
@@ -39,7 +39,11 @@ try:
                                     extra_argv=extra_argv,
                                     doctests=doctests, coverage=coverage)
 
-    test = NoseTester(raise_warnings="release").test
+    try:
+        test = NoseTester(raise_warnings="release").test
+    except TypeError:
+        # Older versions of numpy do not have a raise_warnings argument
+        test = NoseTester().test
     del nosetester
 except:
     pass