diff --git a/lib/rspec/core/metadata.rb b/lib/rspec/core/metadata.rb
index fa70865e08..e122494a2a 100644
--- a/lib/rspec/core/metadata.rb
+++ b/lib/rspec/core/metadata.rb
@@ -102,8 +102,8 @@ module GroupMetadataHash
 
         def described_class
           container_stack.each do |g|
-            return g[:describes]       if g.has_key?(:describes)
             return g[:described_class] if g.has_key?(:described_class)
+            return g[:describes]       if g.has_key?(:describes)
           end
 
           container_stack.reverse.each do |g|
diff --git a/spec/rspec/core/example_group_spec.rb b/spec/rspec/core/example_group_spec.rb
index 6b54cbb8e7..cb7760be41 100644
--- a/spec/rspec/core/example_group_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/rspec/core/example_group_spec.rb
@@ -293,6 +293,22 @@ def metadata_hash(*args)
             group.run.should be_true
           end
         end
+
+        context "and metadata redefinition after `described_class` call" do
+          it "is the redefined level constant" do
+            group = ExampleGroup.describe(String) do
+              described_class
+              metadata[:example_group][:described_class] = Object
+              describe :symbol do
+                example "described_class is Object" do
+                  described_class.should eq(Object)
+                end
+              end
+            end
+
+            group.run.should be_true
+          end
+        end
       end
 
       context "in a nested group" do