diff --git a/lib/jwt/verify.rb b/lib/jwt/verify.rb
index 5cc21002..0f10a7c3 100644
--- a/lib/jwt/verify.rb
+++ b/lib/jwt/verify.rb
@@ -26,13 +26,13 @@ def verify_aud
             raise(
               JWT::InvalidAudError,
               'Invalid audience'
-            ) unless @payload['aud'].include?(aud)
+            ) unless @payload['aud'].include?(aud.to_s)
           end
         else
           raise(
             JWT::InvalidAudError,
             'Invalid audience'
-          ) unless @payload['aud'].include?(options_aud)
+          ) unless @payload['aud'].include?(options_aud.to_s)
         end
       else
         raise(
diff --git a/lib/jwt/version.rb b/lib/jwt/version.rb
index ef680527..3931aa88 100644
--- a/lib/jwt/version.rb
+++ b/lib/jwt/version.rb
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ module VERSION
     # minor version
     MINOR = 5
     # tiny version
-    TINY  = 5
+    TINY  = 6
     # alpha, beta, etc. tag
     PRE   = nil 
 
diff --git a/spec/jwt/verify_spec.rb b/spec/jwt/verify_spec.rb
index c62d1519..9b8e1d39 100644
--- a/spec/jwt/verify_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/jwt/verify_spec.rb
@@ -46,6 +46,19 @@ module JWT
       it 'must allow an array with any value matching the one in the options with a string options key' do
         Verify.verify_aud(array_payload, options.merge('aud' => array_aud.first))
       end
+
+      it 'should allow strings or symbolds in options array' do
+        options['aud'] = [
+          'ruby-jwt-aud', 
+          'test-aud',
+          'ruby-ruby-ruby',
+          :test
+        ]
+
+        array_payload['aud'].push('test')
+        
+        Verify.verify_aud(array_payload, options)
+      end
     end
 
     context '.verify_expiration(payload, options)' do