diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 328a1a90..ef735043 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -249,14 +249,15 @@ set, use an empty string (`""`) or a value of `"system"`.
 A list of additional RVM system-wide Rubies to be built and installed. This
 list does not need to necessarily contain your default Ruby as the
 `rvm_default_ruby` resource will take care of installing itself. You may also
-include patch info. For example:
+include patch info and a rubygems version. For example:
 
     node['rvm']['rubies'] = [
       "ree-1.8.7",
       "jruby",
       {
-        :version => '1.9.3-p125-perf',
-        :patch => "falcon"
+        'version' => '1.9.3-p125-perf',
+        'patch' => 'falcon',
+        'rubygems_version' => '1.5.2'
       }
     ]
 
@@ -388,8 +389,9 @@ The hash keys correspond to the default/system equivalents. For example:
           "ree-1.8.7",
           "jruby",
           {
-            :version => '1.9.3-p125-perf',
-            :patch => "falcon"
+            'version' => '1.9.3-p125-perf',
+            'patch' => "falcon",
+            'rubygems_version' => '1.5.2'
           }
         ],
         'rvmrc'         => {
diff --git a/libraries/chef_rvm_recipe_helpers.rb b/libraries/chef_rvm_recipe_helpers.rb
index a5b25e70..c4e7f288 100644
--- a/libraries/chef_rvm_recipe_helpers.rb
+++ b/libraries/chef_rvm_recipe_helpers.rb
@@ -167,15 +167,18 @@ def install_rubies(opts = {})
         opts[:rubies].each do |rubie|
           if rubie.is_a?(Hash)
             ruby = rubie.fetch("version")
-            ruby_patch = rubie.fetch("patch")
+            ruby_patch = rubie.fetch("patch", nil)
+            ruby_rubygems_version = rubie.fetch("rubygems_version", nil)
           else
             ruby = rubie
             ruby_patch = nil
+            ruby_rubygems_version = nil
           end
 
           rvm_ruby ruby do
-            patch ruby_patch
-            user  opts[:user]
+            patch            ruby_patch
+            user             opts[:user]
+            rubygems_version ruby_rubygems_version
           end
         end
 
diff --git a/providers/ruby.rb b/providers/ruby.rb
index dce8a8cc..93969081 100644
--- a/providers/ruby.rb
+++ b/providers/ruby.rb
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 def load_current_resource
   @rubie        = normalize_ruby_string(select_ruby(new_resource.ruby_string))
   @ruby_string  = new_resource.ruby_string
-  @rvm_env      = ::RVM::ChefUserEnvironment.new(new_resource.user)
+  @rvm_env      = ::RVM::ChefUserEnvironment.new(new_resource.user, "default", :rvm_rubygems_version => new_resource.rubygems_version)
 end
 
 action :install do
diff --git a/resources/ruby.rb b/resources/ruby.rb
index 80b49eec..cd4f29b1 100644
--- a/resources/ruby.rb
+++ b/resources/ruby.rb
@@ -21,9 +21,10 @@
 
 actions :install, :uninstall, :remove
 
-attribute :ruby_string, :kind_of => String, :name_attribute => true
-attribute :user,        :kind_of => String
-attribute :patch,       :kind_of => String
+attribute :ruby_string,      :kind_of => String, :name_attribute => true
+attribute :user,             :kind_of => String
+attribute :patch,            :kind_of => String
+attribute :rubygems_version, :kind_of => String
 
 def initialize(*args)
   super