diff --git a/lib/handlebars/compiler/ast.js b/lib/handlebars/compiler/ast.js
index b059cc183..e8cde74e1 100644
--- a/lib/handlebars/compiler/ast.js
+++ b/lib/handlebars/compiler/ast.js
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ var AST = {
     this.hash = hash;
     this.strip = strip;
 
-    var escapeFlag = open[3] || open[2];
+    // Must use charAt to support IE pre-10
+    var escapeFlag = open.charAt(3) || open.charAt(2);
     this.escaped = escapeFlag !== '{' && escapeFlag !== '&';
 
     var id = this.id = rawParams[0];
diff --git a/src/handlebars.yy b/src/handlebars.yy
index 71a857546..93797f5ae 100644
--- a/src/handlebars.yy
+++ b/src/handlebars.yy
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
 
 function stripFlags(open, close) {
   return {
-    left: open[2] === '~',
-    right: close[0] === '~' || close[1] === '~'
+    left: open.charAt(2) === '~',
+    right: close.charAt(0) === '~' || close.charAt(1) === '~'
   };
 }