diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f18527090..e82a050be 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ Changelog
   | [#545](https://github.com/bugsnag/bugsnag-ruby/issues/545)
   | [#548](https://github.com/bugsnag/bugsnag-ruby/pull/548)
 
+* Allow symbols in breadcrumb meta data.
+  | [#563](https://github.com/bugsnag/bugsnag-ruby/pull/563)
+
 ## 6.11.1 (22 Jan 2019)
 
 ### Fixes
diff --git a/lib/bugsnag/breadcrumbs/validator.rb b/lib/bugsnag/breadcrumbs/validator.rb
index 64eabb434..c6893b50a 100644
--- a/lib/bugsnag/breadcrumbs/validator.rb
+++ b/lib/bugsnag/breadcrumbs/validator.rb
@@ -49,11 +49,11 @@ def validate(breadcrumb)
     ##
     # Tests whether the meta_data types are non-complex objects.
     #
-    # Acceptable types are String, Numeric, TrueClass, FalseClass, and nil.
+    # Acceptable types are String, Symbol, Numeric, TrueClass, FalseClass, and nil.
     #
     # @param value [Object] the object to be type checked
     def valid_meta_data_type?(value)
-      value.nil? || value.is_a?(String) || value.is_a?(Numeric) || value.is_a?(FalseClass) || value.is_a?(TrueClass)
+      value.nil? || value.is_a?(String) || value.is_a?(Symbol) || value.is_a?(Numeric) || value.is_a?(FalseClass) || value.is_a?(TrueClass)
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/breadcrumbs/validator_spec.rb b/spec/breadcrumbs/validator_spec.rb
index 34de2c20d..07e7b2c5b 100644
--- a/spec/breadcrumbs/validator_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/breadcrumbs/validator_spec.rb
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@
 
         meta_data = {
           :string => "This is a string",
+          :symbol => :this_is_a_symbol,
           :integer => 12345,
           :float => 12345.6789,
           :false => false,