diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/cookies.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/cookies.rb
index 6630386ea6580..8ce02ef78db3e 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/cookies.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/cookies.rb
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def initialize(controller)
     # Returns the value of the cookie by +name+ -- or nil if no such cookie exist. You set new cookies using either the cookie method
     # or cookies[]= (for simple name/value cookies without options).
     def [](name)
-      @cookies[name.to_s].value if @cookies[name.to_s]
+      @cookies[name.to_s].value if @cookies.is_a?(Hash) && @cookies[name.to_s]
     end
     
     def []=(name, options)