diff --git a/celery/beat.py b/celery/beat.py
index d42e35df560..2fffb0ef4dc 100644
--- a/celery/beat.py
+++ b/celery/beat.py
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ def __init__(self, name=None, task=None, last_run_at=None,
 
     def default_now(self):
         return self.schedule.now() if self.schedule else self.app.now()
+    _default_now = default_now  # compat
 
     def _next_instance(self, last_run_at=None):
         """Return new instance, with date and count fields updated."""