diff --git a/lib/red_storm/simple_topology.rb b/lib/red_storm/simple_topology.rb
index 5a8e82d..b537c1a 100644
--- a/lib/red_storm/simple_topology.rb
+++ b/lib/red_storm/simple_topology.rb
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ module RedStorm
     end
 
     def self.configure(name = nil, &configure_block)
-      @topology_name = name if name
+      @topology_name = name.to_s if name
       @configure_block = configure_block if block_given?
     end
 
diff --git a/spec/red_storm/simple_topology_spec.rb b/spec/red_storm/simple_topology_spec.rb
index 0cea5a4..4252106 100644
--- a/spec/red_storm/simple_topology_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/red_storm/simple_topology_spec.rb
@@ -180,6 +180,11 @@ describe RedStorm::SimpleTopology do
           configure "name"
         end
         Topology1.topology_name.should == "name"
+
+        class Topology2 < RedStorm::SimpleTopology
+          configure :symbolname
+        end
+        Topology2.topology_name.should == "symbolname"
       end
 
       it "should parse configuration block only" do