diff --git a/django/db/backends/mysql/base.py b/django/db/backends/mysql/base.py
index eb823083f4..754e876701 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/mysql/base.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/mysql/base.py
@@ -464,16 +464,7 @@ class DatabaseWrapper(BaseDatabaseWrapper):
     @cached_property
     def mysql_version(self):
         if not self.server_version:
-            new_connection = False
-            if not self._valid_connection():
-                # Ensure we have a connection with the DB by using a temporary
-                # cursor
-                new_connection = True
-                self.cursor().close()
             server_info = self.connection.get_server_info()
-            if new_connection:
-                # Make sure we close the connection
-                self.close()
             m = server_version_re.match(server_info)
             if not m:
                 raise Exception('Unable to determine MySQL version from version string %r' % server_info)
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/backends/tests.py b/tests/regressiontests/backends/tests.py
index fbe5026e12..ed6f07691a 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/backends/tests.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/backends/tests.py
@@ -123,12 +123,6 @@ class MySQLTests(TestCase):
         else:
             self.assertFalse(found_reset)
 
-    @unittest.skipUnless(connection.vendor == 'mysql',
-                        "Test valid only for MySQL")
-    def test_server_version_connections(self):
-        connection.close()
-        connection.mysql_version
-        self.assertTrue(connection.connection is None)
 
 class DateQuotingTest(TestCase):