diff --git a/build/common/commands/new.py b/build/common/commands/new.py
index 22b8a82a..b54bfc18 100644
--- a/build/common/commands/new.py
+++ b/build/common/commands/new.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import os
 import frappe
 import semantic_version
 
-from frappe.installer import _new_site, update_site_config
+from frappe.installer import update_site_config
 from constants import COMMON_SITE_CONFIG_FILE, RDS_DB, RDS_PRIVILEGES
 from utils import (
     run_command,
@@ -11,6 +11,16 @@ from utils import (
     get_password,
 )
 
+# try to import _new_site from frappe, which could possibly
+# exist in either commands.py or installer.py, and so we need
+# to maintain compatibility across all frappe versions.
+try:
+    # <= version-{11,12}
+    from frappe.commands.site import _new_site
+except ImportError:
+    # >= version-13 and develop
+    from frappe.installer import _new_site
+
 
 def main():
     config = get_config()