diff --git a/system/database/drivers/oci8/oci8_driver.php b/system/database/drivers/oci8/oci8_driver.php
index 38d2395..b2663e2 100644
--- a/system/database/drivers/oci8/oci8_driver.php
+++ b/system/database/drivers/oci8/oci8_driver.php
@@ -240,9 +240,21 @@
 	 */
 	public function version()
 	{
-		return isset($this->data_cache['version'])
-			? $this->data_cache['version']
-			: $this->data_cache['version'] = oci_server_version($this->conn_id);
+		if (isset($this->data_cache['version']))
+		{
+			return $this->data_cache['version'];
+		}
+		elseif ( ! $this->conn_id)
+		{
+			$this->initialize();
+		}
+
+		if ( ! $this->conn_id OR ($version = oci_server_version($this->conn_id)) === FALSE)
+		{
+			return FALSE;
+		}
+
+		return $this->data_cache['version'] = $version;
 	}
 
 	// --------------------------------------------------------------------