diff --git a/lib/sax-machine/handlers/sax_abstract_handler.rb b/lib/sax-machine/handlers/sax_abstract_handler.rb
index 9a6f3fe..345f6d4 100644
--- a/lib/sax-machine/handlers/sax_abstract_handler.rb
+++ b/lib/sax-machine/handlers/sax_abstract_handler.rb
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ def element_values_for(config)
     end
 
     def normalize_name(name)
-      name.gsub(/\-/, "_")
+      name.to_s.tr("-", "_")
     end
 
     def set_attributes_on(object, attributes)