diff --git a/django/db/utils.py b/django/db/utils.py
index 3ad83b52ff..e45f1db249 100644
--- a/django/db/utils.py
+++ b/django/db/utils.py
@@ -183,6 +183,9 @@ class ConnectionHandler(BaseConnectionHandler):
 
     @property
     def databases(self):
+        # Maintained for backward compatibility as some 3rd party packages have
+        # made use of this private API in the past. It is no longer used within
+        # Django itself.
         return self.settings
 
     def create_connection(self, alias):
diff --git a/tests/db_utils/tests.py b/tests/db_utils/tests.py
index fe1d1e2d60..9c0ec905cc 100644
--- a/tests/db_utils/tests.py
+++ b/tests/db_utils/tests.py
@@ -40,6 +40,14 @@ class ConnectionHandlerTests(SimpleTestCase):
         with self.assertRaisesMessage(ImproperlyConfigured, msg):
             conns["other"].ensure_connection()
 
+    def test_databases_property(self):
+        # The "databases" property is maintained for backwards compatibility
+        # with 3rd party packages. It should be an alias of the "settings"
+        # property.
+        conn = ConnectionHandler({})
+        self.assertNotEqual(conn.settings, {})
+        self.assertEqual(conn.settings, conn.databases)
+
     def test_nonexistent_alias(self):
         msg = "The connection 'nonexistent' doesn't exist."
         conns = ConnectionHandler(