diff --git a/sphinx/__init__.py b/sphinx/__init__.py
index 0c68ad3223..88d47cd111 100644
--- a/sphinx/__init__.py
+++ b/sphinx/__init__.py
@@ -39,19 +39,8 @@ if '+' in __version__ or 'pre' in __version__:
 def main(argv=sys.argv):
     """Sphinx build "main" command-line entry."""
     if sys.version_info[:3] < (2, 5, 0):
-        sys.stderr.write('Error: Sphinx requires at least '
-                         'Python 2.5 to run.\n')
+        sys.stderr.write('Error: Sphinx requires at least Python 2.5 to run.\n')
         return 1
-    if sys.version_info[:3] >= (3, 3, 0):
-        try:
-            import docutils
-            x, y = docutils.__version__.split('.')[:2]
-            if (int(x), int(y)) < (0, 10):
-                sys.stderr.write('Error: Sphinx requires at least '
-                                 'Docutils 0.10 for Python 3.3 and above.\n')
-                return 1
-        except Exception:
-            pass
     try:
         from sphinx import cmdline
     except ImportError:
@@ -78,6 +67,12 @@ def main(argv=sys.argv):
                 sys.stderr.write(hint)
             return 1
         raise
+    if sys.version_info[:3] >= (3, 3, 0):
+        from sphinx.util.compat import docutils_version
+        if docutils_version < (0, 10):
+            sys.stderr.write('Error: Sphinx requires at least '
+                             'Docutils 0.10 for Python 3.3 and above.\n')
+            return 1
     return cmdline.main(argv)
 
 
diff --git a/sphinx/transforms.py b/sphinx/transforms.py
index 97721eb5e0..26495a0997 100644
--- a/sphinx/transforms.py
+++ b/sphinx/transforms.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ from sphinx.locale import _, init as init_locale
 from sphinx.util import split_index_msg
 from sphinx.util.nodes import traverse_translatable_index, extract_messages
 from sphinx.util.osutil import ustrftime, find_catalog
+from sphinx.util.compat import docutils_version
 from sphinx.util.pycompat import all
 
 
@@ -131,21 +132,14 @@ class CustomLocaleReporter(object):
     """
     Replacer for document.reporter.get_source_and_line method.
 
-    reST text lines for translation not have original source line number.
-    This class provide correct line number at reporting.
+    reST text lines for translation do not have the original source line number.
+    This class provides the correct line numbers when reporting.
     """
     def __init__(self, source, line):
         self.source, self.line = source, line
 
-        try:
-            from docutils import __version__ as du_version
-            v = tuple([int(x) for x in du_version.split('.')[:2]])
-        except ImportError:
-            v = (99, 99)
-        self.du_version = v
-
     def set_reporter(self, document):
-        if self.du_version < (0, 9):
+        if docutils_version < (0, 9):
             document.reporter.locator = self.get_source_and_line
         else:
             document.reporter.get_source_and_line = self.get_source_and_line
diff --git a/sphinx/util/compat.py b/sphinx/util/compat.py
index 9462307994..4b7cbf6dc0 100644
--- a/sphinx/util/compat.py
+++ b/sphinx/util/compat.py
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@
 
 from docutils import nodes
 
+from docutils import __version__ as _du_version
+docutils_version = tuple(int(x) for x in _du_version.split('.')[:2])
+
 def make_admonition(node_class, name, arguments, options, content, lineno,
                     content_offset, block_text, state, state_machine):
     #if not content: