diff --git a/PIL/ImageFont.py b/PIL/ImageFont.py
index 46aeb7e33..17a5aa72d 100644
--- a/PIL/ImageFont.py
+++ b/PIL/ImageFont.py
@@ -313,6 +313,8 @@ def load_default():
     from io import BytesIO
     import base64
     f = ImageFont()
+    if sys.version_info < (3, 1):
+        base64.decodebytes = base64.decodestring
     f._load_pilfont_data(
         # courB08
         BytesIO(base64.decodebytes(b'''