diff --git a/core/Db/Adapter/Mysqli.php b/core/Db/Adapter/Mysqli.php
index 396ab6034309..a5b66e710643 100644
--- a/core/Db/Adapter/Mysqli.php
+++ b/core/Db/Adapter/Mysqli.php
@@ -71,9 +71,24 @@ public function checkServerVersion()
         $serverVersion   = $this->getServerVersion();
         $requiredVersion = Config::getInstance()->General['minimum_mysql_version'];
 
-        if (version_compare($serverVersion, $requiredVersion) === -1) {
-            throw new Exception(Piwik::translate('General_ExceptionDatabaseVersion', array('MySQL', $serverVersion, $requiredVersion)));
+        if (version_compare($serverVersion, $requiredVersion) >= 0) {
+            return;
         }
+
+        // Azure lies/misreports the MySQL version in the connection handshake
+        if (isset($this->_config['host']) && strpos($this->_config['host'], '.mysql.database.azure.com') !== false) {
+            $versionInfo = $this->fetchAll('SELECT @@VERSION');
+
+            if (count($versionInfo)) {
+                $serverVersion = $versionInfo[0]['@@VERSION'];
+
+                if (version_compare($serverVersion, $requiredVersion) >= 0) {
+                    return;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        throw new Exception(Piwik::translate('General_ExceptionDatabaseVersion', array('MySQL', $serverVersion, $requiredVersion)));
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/core/Db/Adapter/Pdo/Mysql.php b/core/Db/Adapter/Pdo/Mysql.php
index 360e6a57e8e0..f7f790661775 100644
--- a/core/Db/Adapter/Pdo/Mysql.php
+++ b/core/Db/Adapter/Pdo/Mysql.php
@@ -107,9 +107,24 @@ public function checkServerVersion()
         $serverVersion   = $this->getServerVersion();
         $requiredVersion = Config::getInstance()->General['minimum_mysql_version'];
 
-        if (version_compare($serverVersion, $requiredVersion) === -1) {
-            throw new Exception(Piwik::translate('General_ExceptionDatabaseVersion', array('MySQL', $serverVersion, $requiredVersion)));
+        if (version_compare($serverVersion, $requiredVersion) >= 0) {
+            return;
         }
+
+        // Azure lies/misreports the MySQL version in the connection handshake
+        if (isset($this->_config['host']) && strpos($this->_config['host'], '.mysql.database.azure.com') !== false) {
+            $versionInfo = $this->fetchAll('SELECT @@VERSION');
+
+            if (count($versionInfo)) {
+                $serverVersion = $versionInfo[0]['@@VERSION'];
+
+                if (version_compare($serverVersion, $requiredVersion) >= 0) {
+                    return;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        throw new Exception(Piwik::translate('General_ExceptionDatabaseVersion', array('MySQL', $serverVersion, $requiredVersion)));
     }
 
     /**