diff --git a/attic/platform.py b/attic/platform.py
index 37c5c72c4..6fe031599 100644
--- a/attic/platform.py
+++ b/attic/platform.py
@@ -9,9 +9,12 @@ elif platform == 'FreeBSD':
 elif platform == 'Darwin':
     from attic.platform_darwin import acl_get, acl_set, API_VERSION
 else:
-    API_VERSION = 1
+    # this is a dummy acl interface for platforms for which we do not have
+    # a real implementation (or which do not support acls at all).
 
-    def acl_get(path, item, numeric_owner=False):
+    API_VERSION = 2
+
+    def acl_get(path, item, st, numeric_owner=False):
         pass
 
     def acl_set(path, item, numeric_owner=False):