diff --git a/lib/cocoapods-core/specification/linter.rb b/lib/cocoapods-core/specification/linter.rb
index b0f448b93..a8b8515cc 100644
--- a/lib/cocoapods-core/specification/linter.rb
+++ b/lib/cocoapods-core/specification/linter.rb
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ def validate_file_patterns
       # @todo remove in 0.18 and switch the default to true.
       #
       def check_tmp_arc_not_nil
-        if consumer.requires_arc.nil?
+        if consumer.spec.attributes_hash["requires_arc"].nil?
           warning "A value for `requires_arc` should be specified until the " \
             "migration to a `true` default."
         end
diff --git a/spec/specification/linter_spec.rb b/spec/specification/linter_spec.rb
index 876d3db3d..892300c98 100644
--- a/spec/specification/linter_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/specification/linter_spec.rb
@@ -354,9 +354,7 @@ def message_should_include(*values)
         message.should.include('spec is empty')
       end
 
-      xit "requires that the require_arc value is specified until the switch to a true default" do
-        # TODO the default value is invalidating this test
-        consumer = @spec.consumer(:ios)
+      it "requires that the requires_arc value is specified explcitly until the switch to a true default" do
         @spec.requires_arc = nil
         @linter.lint
         message = @linter.results.first.message