diff --git a/django/db/backends/mysql/base.py b/django/db/backends/mysql/base.py
index 98233c7..87e7d2a 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/mysql/base.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/mysql/base.py
@@ -255,6 +255,15 @@ class DatabaseOperations(BaseDatabaseOperations):
     def max_name_length(self):
         return 64
 
+    def savepoint_create_sql(self, sid):
+        return "SAVEPOINT %s" % sid
+
+    def savepoint_commit_sql(self, sid):
+        return "RELEASE SAVEPOINT %s" % sid
+
+    def savepoint_rollback_sql(self, sid):
+        return "ROLLBACK TO SAVEPOINT %s" % sid
+
 class DatabaseWrapper(BaseDatabaseWrapper):
     vendor = 'mysql'
     operators = {
@@ -322,6 +331,8 @@ class DatabaseWrapper(BaseDatabaseWrapper):
             self.connection = Database.connect(**kwargs)
             self.connection.encoders[SafeUnicode] = self.connection.encoders[unicode]
             self.connection.encoders[SafeString] = self.connection.encoders[str]
+            self.features.uses_savepoints = \
+                self.get_server_version() >= (5, 0, 3)
             connection_created.send(sender=self.__class__, connection=self)
         cursor = CursorWrapper(self.connection.cursor())
         return cursor