diff --git a/cake/libs/debugger.php b/cake/libs/debugger.php
index b28a488c4cc..b66c7366c55 100644
--- a/cake/libs/debugger.php
+++ b/cake/libs/debugger.php
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ class Debugger extends Object {
 	function __construct() {
 		$docRef = ini_get('docref_root');
 
-		if (empty($docRef)) {
+		if (empty($docRef) && function_exists('ini_set')) {
 			ini_set('docref_root', 'http://php.net/');
 		}
 		if (!defined('E_RECOVERABLE_ERROR')) {