diff --git a/django/contrib/sessions/middleware.py b/django/contrib/sessions/middleware.py
index 2fcd7d508afd..9c934f9dddab 100644
--- a/django/contrib/sessions/middleware.py
+++ b/django/contrib/sessions/middleware.py
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@ def process_response(self, request, response):
                     expires_time = time.time() + max_age
                     expires = http_date(expires_time)
                 # Save the session data and refresh the client cookie.
-                # Skip session save for 500 responses, refs #3881.
-                if response.status_code != 500:
+                # Skip session save for 5xx responses.
+                if response.status_code < 500:
                     try:
                         request.session.save()
                     except UpdateError:
diff --git a/tests/sessions_tests/tests.py b/tests/sessions_tests/tests.py
index 96f8dbcd5b29..d13c485342e8 100644
--- a/tests/sessions_tests/tests.py
+++ b/tests/sessions_tests/tests.py
@@ -715,7 +715,7 @@ def test_no_httponly_session_cookie(self):
         )
 
     def test_session_save_on_500(self):
-        def response_500(requset):
+        def response_500(request):
             response = HttpResponse("Horrible error")
             response.status_code = 500
             request.session["hello"] = "world"
@@ -727,6 +727,19 @@ def response_500(requset):
         # The value wasn't saved above.
         self.assertNotIn("hello", request.session.load())
 
+    def test_session_save_on_5xx(self):
+        def response_503(request):
+            response = HttpResponse("Service Unavailable")
+            response.status_code = 503
+            request.session["hello"] = "world"
+            return response
+
+        request = self.request_factory.get("/")
+        SessionMiddleware(response_503)(request)
+
+        # The value wasn't saved above.
+        self.assertNotIn("hello", request.session.load())
+
     def test_session_update_error_redirect(self):
         def response_delete_session(request):
             request.session = DatabaseSession()