diff --git a/lib/bundler/dsl.rb b/lib/bundler/dsl.rb
index 9be847d583a..e2994e4b264 100644
--- a/lib/bundler/dsl.rb
+++ b/lib/bundler/dsl.rb
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ def gemspec(opts)
     end
 
     def gem(name, *args)
+      if name.is_a?(Symbol)
+        raise GemfileError, %{You need to specify gem names as Strings. Use 'gem "#{name.to_s}"' instead.}
+      end
+
       options = Hash === args.last ? args.pop : {}
       version = args.last || ">= 0"
       if group = options[:groups] || options[:group]
diff --git a/spec/install/gems/simple_case_spec.rb b/spec/install/gems/simple_case_spec.rb
index 77444f2dade..b9dc7d05f7c 100644
--- a/spec/install/gems/simple_case_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/install/gems/simple_case_spec.rb
@@ -21,6 +21,14 @@
       should_be_installed("rack 1.0.0")
     end
 
+    it "raises an appropriate error when gems are specified using symbols" do
+      status = install_gemfile(<<-G, :exit_status => true)
+        source "file://#{gem_repo1}"
+        gem :rack
+      G
+      status.should == 4
+    end
+
     it "pulls in dependencies" do
       install_gemfile <<-G
         source "file://#{gem_repo1}"