diff --git a/cms/envs/common.py b/cms/envs/common.py
index 32310f9c24..194b6efd2d 100644
--- a/cms/envs/common.py
+++ b/cms/envs/common.py
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ import imp
 import os
 import sys
 from datetime import timedelta
+
+import django
+
 import lms.envs.common
 # Although this module itself may not use these imported variables, other dependent modules may.
 from lms.envs.common import (
@@ -433,6 +436,13 @@ simplefilter('ignore')
 
 ################################# Middleware ###################################
 
+# TODO: Remove Django 1.11 upgrade shim
+# SHIM: Remove birdcage references post-1.11 upgrade as it is only in place to help during that deployment
+if django.VERSION < (1, 9):
+    _csrf_middleware = 'birdcage.v1_11.csrf.CsrfViewMiddleware'
+else:
+    _csrf_middleware = 'django.middleware.csrf.CsrfViewMiddleware'
+
 MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES = [
     'crum.CurrentRequestUserMiddleware',
     'request_cache.middleware.RequestCache',
@@ -442,7 +452,7 @@ MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES = [
     'openedx.core.djangoapps.header_control.middleware.HeaderControlMiddleware',
     'django.middleware.cache.UpdateCacheMiddleware',
     'django.middleware.common.CommonMiddleware',
-    'birdcage.v1_11.csrf.CsrfViewMiddleware',
+    _csrf_middleware,
     'django.contrib.sites.middleware.CurrentSiteMiddleware',
 
     # Instead of SessionMiddleware, we use a more secure version
diff --git a/lms/envs/common.py b/lms/envs/common.py
index 42898fae2c..a994191a82 100644
--- a/lms/envs/common.py
+++ b/lms/envs/common.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import sys
 import os
 
 import dealer.git
+import django
 from path import Path as path
 from warnings import simplefilter
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
@@ -1230,6 +1231,13 @@ simplefilter('ignore')
 
 ################################# Middleware ###################################
 
+# TODO: Remove Django 1.11 upgrade shim
+# SHIM: Remove birdcage references post-1.11 upgrade as it is only in place to help during that deployment
+if django.VERSION < (1, 9):
+    _csrf_middleware = 'birdcage.v1_11.csrf.CsrfViewMiddleware'
+else:
+    _csrf_middleware = 'django.middleware.csrf.CsrfViewMiddleware'
+
 MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES = [
     'crum.CurrentRequestUserMiddleware',
 
@@ -1271,7 +1279,7 @@ MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES = [
     'corsheaders.middleware.CorsMiddleware',
     'openedx.core.djangoapps.cors_csrf.middleware.CorsCSRFMiddleware',
     'openedx.core.djangoapps.cors_csrf.middleware.CsrfCrossDomainCookieMiddleware',
-    'birdcage.v1_11.csrf.CsrfViewMiddleware',
+    _csrf_middleware,
 
     'splash.middleware.SplashMiddleware',
 
diff --git a/lms/envs/load_test.py b/lms/envs/load_test.py
index 6b1018ecdd..cfc90add27 100644
--- a/lms/envs/load_test.py
+++ b/lms/envs/load_test.py
@@ -8,9 +8,13 @@ Settings for load testing.
 
 from .aws import *
 
+# TODO: Remove Django 1.11 upgrade shim
+# SHIM: Remove birdcage references post-1.11 upgrade as it is only in place to help during that deployment
+
 # Disable CSRF for load testing
 EXCLUDE_CSRF = lambda elem: elem not in [
     'django.template.context_processors.csrf',
+    'django.middleware.csrf.CsrfViewMiddleware',
     'birdcage.v1_11.csrf.CsrfViewMiddleware'
 ]
 DEFAULT_TEMPLATE_ENGINE['OPTIONS']['context_processors'] = filter(
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/cors_csrf/middleware.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/cors_csrf/middleware.py
index ab4d82a693..1f3c8ee365 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/cors_csrf/middleware.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/cors_csrf/middleware.py
@@ -44,12 +44,20 @@ CSRF cookie.
 
 import logging
 
+import django
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.core.exceptions import ImproperlyConfigured, MiddlewareNotUsed
-from birdcage.v1_11.csrf import CsrfViewMiddleware
 
 from .helpers import is_cross_domain_request_allowed, skip_cross_domain_referer_check
 
+# TODO: Remove Django 1.11 upgrade shim
+# SHIM: Remove birdcage references post-1.11 upgrade as it is only in place to help during that deployment
+if django.VERSION < (1, 9):
+    from birdcage.v1_11.csrf import CsrfViewMiddleware
+else:
+    from django.middleware.csrf import CsrfViewMiddleware
+
+
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/cors_csrf/tests/test_middleware.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/cors_csrf/tests/test_middleware.py
index 6fc3f7d1ce..7c30b8ce33 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/cors_csrf/tests/test_middleware.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/cors_csrf/tests/test_middleware.py
@@ -5,11 +5,18 @@ Tests for the CORS CSRF middleware
 from mock import patch, Mock
 import ddt
 
+import django
 from django.test import TestCase
 from django.test.utils import override_settings
 from django.core.exceptions import MiddlewareNotUsed, ImproperlyConfigured
 from django.http import HttpResponse
-from birdcage.v1_11.csrf import CsrfViewMiddleware
+
+# TODO: Remove Django 1.11 upgrade shim
+# SHIM: Remove birdcage references post-1.11 upgrade as it is only in place to help during that deployment
+if django.VERSION < (1, 9):
+    from birdcage.v1_11.csrf import CsrfViewMiddleware
+else:
+    from django.middleware.csrf import CsrfViewMiddleware
 
 from ..middleware import CorsCSRFMiddleware, CsrfCrossDomainCookieMiddleware