diff --git a/lib/mongo/db.rb b/lib/mongo/db.rb
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/lib/mongo/db.rb
+++ b/lib/mongo/db.rb
@@ -602,7 +602,7 @@ module Mongo
       if !ok?(doc)
         raise MongoDBError, "Error with validate command: #{doc.inspect}"
       end
-      if !doc['valid']
+      if (doc.has_key?('valid') && !doc['valid']) || (doc['result'] =~ /\b(exception|corrupt)\b/i)
         raise MongoDBError, "Error: invalid collection #{name}: #{doc.inspect}"
       end
       doc
diff --git a/test/db_test.rb b/test/db_test.rb
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/test/db_test.rb
+++ b/test/db_test.rb
@@ -304,7 +304,11 @@ class DBTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
 
     should "validate collection" do
       doc = @db.validate_collection(@coll.name)
-      assert doc['valid']
+      if @@version >= "1.9.1"
+        assert doc['valid']
+      else
+        assert doc['result']
+      end
     end
 
   end
minor: make DB#validate_collection compatible with server <I> and <I>