diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/caching/actions.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/caching/actions.rb
index f988de39dd66d..3b86a9a93a8b9 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/caching/actions.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/caching/actions.rb
@@ -116,9 +116,8 @@ def _save_fragment(name, options)
       def expire_action(options = {})
         return unless cache_configured?
 
-        actions = options[:action]
-        if actions.is_a?(Array)
-          actions.each {|action| expire_action(options.merge(:action => action)) }
+        if options.is_a?(Hash) && options[:action].is_a?(Array)
+          options[:action].each {|action| expire_action(options.merge(:action => action)) }
         else
           expire_fragment(ActionCachePath.new(self, options, false).path)
         end
diff --git a/actionpack/test/controller/caching_test.rb b/actionpack/test/controller/caching_test.rb
index 2364bbf3a3fce..015e6b99559e3 100644
--- a/actionpack/test/controller/caching_test.rb
+++ b/actionpack/test/controller/caching_test.rb
@@ -251,6 +251,11 @@ def expire_xml
     expire_action :controller => 'action_caching_test', :action => 'index', :format => 'xml'
     render :nothing => true
   end
+
+  def expire_with_url_string
+    expire_action url_for(:controller => 'action_caching_test', :action => 'index')
+    render :nothing => true
+  end
 end
 
 class MockTime < Time
@@ -445,6 +450,21 @@ def test_cache_expiration_isnt_affected_by_request_format
     assert_not_equal cached_time, @response.body
   end
 
+  def test_cache_expiration_with_url_string
+    get :index
+    cached_time = content_to_cache
+    reset!
+
+    @request.request_uri = "/action_caching_test/expire_with_url_string"
+    get :expire_with_url_string
+    assert_response :success
+    reset!
+
+    get :index
+    assert_response :success
+    assert_not_equal cached_time, @response.body
+  end
+
   def test_cache_is_scoped_by_subdomain
     @request.host = 'jamis.hostname.com'
     get :index