diff --git a/mysql/MySQLdb.py b/mysql/MySQLdb.py
index 48a44cf..b8b268e 100644
--- a/mysql/MySQLdb.py
+++ b/mysql/MySQLdb.py
@@ -451,11 +451,7 @@ class Connection:
             self.cursorclass = Cursor
         self.db = apply(connect, (), kwargs)
         self.quote_conv[types.StringType] = self.Thing2Literal
-        self.db.query('show variables')
-        r = self.db.store_result()
-        vars = r.fetch_row(0)
-        self._server_vars = {}
-        for k,v in vars: self._server_vars[k] = v
+        self._transactional = self.db.server_capabilities & CLIENT.TRANSACTIONS
         if _threading: self.__lock = _threading.Lock()
 
     if _threading:
@@ -473,12 +469,12 @@ class Connection:
          
     def commit(self):
         """Commit the current transaction."""
-        if self._server_vars.get('have_bdb','NO') == 'YES':
+        if self._transactional:
             self.db.query("COMMIT")
 
     def rollback(self):
         """Rollback the current transaction."""
-        if self._server_vars.get('have_bdb','NO') == 'YES':
+        if self._transactional:
             self.db.query("ROLLBACK")
         else: raise NotSupportedError, "Not supported by server"
 
diff --git a/mysql/_mysql_const/CLIENT.py b/mysql/_mysql_const/CLIENT.py
index e9150c5..a29c038 100644
--- a/mysql/_mysql_const/CLIENT.py
+++ b/mysql/_mysql_const/CLIENT.py
@@ -11,4 +11,4 @@ CHANGE_USER = 512
 INTERACTIVE = 1024
 SSL = 2048
 IGNORE_SIGPIPE = 4096
-TRANSACTIONS = 8196
+TRANSACTIONS = 8192 # mysql_com.h is WRONG
diff --git a/mysql/_mysqlmodule.c b/mysql/_mysqlmodule.c
index a1cf129..2508b86 100644
--- a/mysql/_mysqlmodule.c
+++ b/mysql/_mysqlmodule.c
@@ -1245,6 +1245,8 @@ _mysql_ConnectionObject_getattr(
 		return PyInt_FromLong((long)(self->open));
 	if (strcmp(name, "closed") == 0)
 		return PyInt_FromLong((long)!(self->open));
+	if (strcmp(name, "server_capabilities") == 0)
+		return PyInt_FromLong((long)(self->connection.server_capabilities));
 	return PyMember_Get((char *)self, _mysql_ConnectionObject_memberlist, name);
 }