diff --git a/lib/mail/utilities.rb b/lib/mail/utilities.rb
index e07d3526a..a2359558a 100644
--- a/lib/mail/utilities.rb
+++ b/lib/mail/utilities.rb
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@ def quote_atom( str )
     # If the string supplied has PHRASE unsafe characters in it, will return the string quoted
     # in double quotes, otherwise returns the string unmodified
     def quote_phrase( str )
-      if RUBY_VERSION >= '1.9'
+      if str.respond_to?(:force_encoding)
         original_encoding = str.encoding
-        ascii_str = str.dup.force_encoding('ASCII-8BIT')
+        ascii_str = str.to_s.dup.force_encoding('ASCII-8BIT')
         if (PHRASE_UNSAFE === ascii_str)
           dquote(ascii_str).force_encoding(original_encoding)
         else
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ def token_safe?( str )
     def quote_token( str )
       if str.respond_to?(:force_encoding)
         original_encoding = str.encoding
-        ascii_str = str.dup.force_encoding('ASCII-8BIT')
+        ascii_str = str.to_s.dup.force_encoding('ASCII-8BIT')
         if token_safe?( ascii_str )
           str
         else