diff --git a/pikatasks/django_compat.py b/pikatasks/django_compat.py
index 4b53757d6d50d9703cc3a64d7e368d9decdbd66f..3c4d3c14d5adc59b4e79b2b7edf2371260e9d808 100644
--- a/pikatasks/django_compat.py
+++ b/pikatasks/django_compat.py
@@ -39,9 +39,9 @@ def close_db_connections():
 
 @requires_django
 def check_worker_db_settings():
-    t = int(django_conf.settings.CONN_MAX_AGE)
-    if not t or t > 20 * 60:
-        raise ValueError("When using django, CONN_MAX_AGE must be set to a sane value. The current value: {t} seconds.".format(t=t))
+    conn_age_acceptable = range(10, 20 * 60)  # in seconds
+    if getattr(django_conf.settings, "CONN_MAX_AGE", 0) not in conn_age_acceptable:
+        raise ValueError("When using django, CONN_MAX_AGE must be set to a reasonable value. Accepted: {0}".format(conn_age_acceptable))
 
 
 @requires_django