diff --git a/django/core/management/commands/syncdb.py b/django/core/management/commands/syncdb.py
index 8087c9a693..81938c777c 100644
--- a/django/core/management/commands/syncdb.py
+++ b/django/core/management/commands/syncdb.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ class Command(NoArgsCommand):
         cursor = connection.cursor()
 
         if connection.features.uses_case_insensitive_names:
-            table_name_converter = str.upper
+            table_name_converter = lambda x: x.upper()
         else:
             table_name_converter = lambda x: x
         # Get a list of all existing database tables, so we know what needs to
diff --git a/django/core/management/sql.py b/django/core/management/sql.py
index ed76bc4e35..d7a46f0cd6 100644
--- a/django/core/management/sql.py
+++ b/django/core/management/sql.py
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ def sql_delete(app, style):
     else:
         table_names = []
     if connection.features.uses_case_insensitive_names:
-        table_name_converter = str.upper
+        table_name_converter = lambda x: x.upper()
     else:
         table_name_converter = lambda x: x