diff --git a/lib/bundler/ruby_version.rb b/lib/bundler/ruby_version.rb
index 8c050c6d316..ebdefe63fc2 100644
--- a/lib/bundler/ruby_version.rb
+++ b/lib/bundler/ruby_version.rb
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ def initialize(versions, patchlevel, engine, engine_version)
 
       @versions           = Array(versions)
       @gem_version        = Gem::Requirement.create(@versions.first).requirements.first.last
-      @input_engine       = engine
-      @engine             = engine || "ruby"
+      @input_engine       = engine && engine.to_s
+      @engine             = engine && engine.to_s || "ruby"
       @engine_versions    = (engine_version && Array(engine_version)) || @versions
       @engine_gem_version = Gem::Requirement.create(@engine_versions.first).requirements.first.last
       @patchlevel         = patchlevel
diff --git a/spec/bundler/ruby_version_spec.rb b/spec/bundler/ruby_version_spec.rb
index abcd0303d0a..e983c18484e 100644
--- a/spec/bundler/ruby_version_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/bundler/ruby_version_spec.rb
@@ -35,6 +35,14 @@
         end
       end
 
+      context "with engine in symbol" do
+        let(:engine) { :jruby }
+
+        it "should coerce engine to string" do
+          expect(subject.engine).to eq("jruby")
+        end
+      end
+
       context "is called with multiple requirements" do
         let(:version) { ["<= 2.0.0", "> 1.9.3"] }
         let(:engine_version) { nil }
diff --git a/spec/install/gemfile_spec.rb b/spec/install/gemfile_spec.rb
index 98abc30c860..03ae344987a 100644
--- a/spec/install/gemfile_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/install/gemfile_spec.rb
@@ -66,4 +66,33 @@
       expect(out).to match(/You passed :lib as an option for gem 'rack', but it is invalid/)
     end
   end
+
+  context "with engine specified in symbol" do
+    it "does not raise any error parsing Gemfile" do
+      simulate_ruby_version "2.3.0" do
+        simulate_ruby_engine "jruby", "9.1.2.0" do
+          install_gemfile! <<-G
+            source "https://rubygems.org"
+            ruby "2.3.0", :engine => :jruby, :engine_version => "9.1.2.0"
+          G
+
+          expect(out).to match(/Bundle complete!/)
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
+    it "installation succeeds" do
+      simulate_ruby_version "2.3.0" do
+        simulate_ruby_engine "jruby", "9.1.2.0" do
+          install_gemfile! <<-G
+            source "file://#{gem_repo1}"
+            ruby "2.3.0", :engine => :jruby, :engine_version => "9.1.2.0"
+            gem "rack"
+          G
+
+          expect(the_bundle).to include_gems "rack 1.0.0"
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
 end