diff --git a/Sieve.php b/Sieve.php
index cfdf52a..2ea8113 100644
--- a/Sieve.php
+++ b/Sieve.php
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ function __construct($user = null, $pass  = null, $host = 'localhost',
         $this->_sock              = new Net_Socket();
         $this->_bypassAuth        = $bypassAuth;
         $this->_useTLS            = $useTLS;
-        $this->_options           = $options;
+        $this->_options           = (array) $options;
         $this->setDebug($debug, $handler);
 
         /* Try to include the Auth_SASL package.  If the package is not