diff --git a/doc/sphinx/compiling.rst b/doc/sphinx/compiling.rst
index 8b0bf1100..9567f1007 100644
--- a/doc/sphinx/compiling.rst
+++ b/doc/sphinx/compiling.rst
@@ -187,11 +187,17 @@ For compatibility, the legacy Python module is still available, though it will n
 receive feature updates, and will be removed in a future Cantera release. Users
 are encouraged to switch to the new Python module when possible.
 
+The Cython module is compatible with the following Python versions: 2.6, 2.7,
+3.1, 3.2, and 3.3. Support for Python 2.6 and Python 3.1 requires the ``scipy``
+and ``unittest2`` packages to be installed as well (see :ref:`sec-dependencies`)
+to provide certain features that are included in the standard
+library in more recent versions.
+
 Building for Python 2
 .....................
 
-By default, SCons will build the legacy Python module. To build the new module,
-use the SCons option ``python_package=new``.
+By default, SCons will attempt to build the new Python module. To build the
+legacy Python module instead, use the SCons option ``python_package=full``.
 
 Building for Python 3
 .....................
@@ -450,6 +456,17 @@ Optional Programs
   * Used to convert Cython examples to Python 2 syntax.
   * Known to work with version 1.0
 
+* `Scipy <http://scipy.org/install.html>`_
+
+  * Required in order to use the new Python module with Python 2.6 or 3.1.
+
+* Unittest2
+
+  * Required in order to run the test suite for the new Python module with
+    Python 2.6 or Python 3.1.
+  * https://pypi.python.org/pypi/unittest2 (Python 2.6)
+  * https://pypi.python.org/pypi/unittest2py3k (Python 3.1)
+
 * Matlab
 
   * Required to build the Cantera Matlab toolbox.
diff --git a/interfaces/cython/cantera/test/utilities.py b/interfaces/cython/cantera/test/utilities.py
index 7d088ed30..17877f94e 100644
--- a/interfaces/cython/cantera/test/utilities.py
+++ b/interfaces/cython/cantera/test/utilities.py
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 import numpy as np
 import sys
 
-if sys.version_info[:2] < (2,7):
-    # unittest2 is a backport of the new features added to the
-    # unittest testing framework in Python 2.7. See
-    # https://pypi.python.org/pypi/unittest2
+_ver = sys.version_info[:2]
+if  _ver < (2,7) or (3,0) <= _ver < (3,2):
+    # unittest2 is a backport of the new features added to the unittest
+    # testing framework in Python 2.7 and Python 3.2. See
+    # https://pypi.python.org/pypi/unittest2 (for Python 2.x)
+    # https://pypi.python.org/pypi/unittest2py3k (for Python 3.x)
     import unittest2 as unittest
 else:
     import unittest