diff --git a/py/selenium/webdriver/remote/webdriver.py b/py/selenium/webdriver/remote/webdriver.py
index e2144c8188bbf..4ff6ba32d1635 100644
--- a/py/selenium/webdriver/remote/webdriver.py
+++ b/py/selenium/webdriver/remote/webdriver.py
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ def create_web_element(self, element_id):
         """
         Creates a web element with the specified element_id.
         """
-        return WebElement(self, element_id, capabilities=self.capabilities)
+        return WebElement(self, element_id, w3c=self.w3c)
 
     def _unwrap_value(self, value):
         if isinstance(value, dict) and ('ELEMENT' in value or 'element-6066-11e4-a52e-4f735466cecf' in value):
diff --git a/py/selenium/webdriver/remote/webelement.py b/py/selenium/webdriver/remote/webelement.py
index bd8dcb325084d..b44a3d3ba1b05 100644
--- a/py/selenium/webdriver/remote/webelement.py
+++ b/py/selenium/webdriver/remote/webelement.py
@@ -53,11 +53,10 @@ class WebElement(object):
                           'readonly', 'allowfullscreen', 'selected', 'formnovalidate',
                           'multiple', 'autofocus', 'open', 'loop', 'autoplay']
 
-    def __init__(self, parent, id_, capabilities):
+    def __init__(self, parent, id_, w3c=False):
         self._parent = parent
         self._id = id_
-        self.capabilities = capabilities
-        self._w3c = "specificationLevel" in self.capabilities
+        self._w3c = w3c
 
     def __repr__(self):
         return '<{0.__module__}.{0.__name__} (session="{1}", element="{2}")>'.format(