diff --git a/lib/couchrest/validation/validation_errors.rb b/lib/couchrest/validation/validation_errors.rb
index b5aa106..4ddbb6e 100644
--- a/lib/couchrest/validation/validation_errors.rb
+++ b/lib/couchrest/validation/validation_errors.rb
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ module CouchRest
       #
       # @param <Symbol> field_name the name of the field you want an error for
       def on(field_name)
-        errors_for_field = errors[field_name]
+        errors_for_field = errors[field_name.to_sym]
         errors_for_field.blank? ? nil : errors_for_field
       end
 
diff --git a/spec/couchrest/more/property_spec.rb b/spec/couchrest/more/property_spec.rb
index 723c9ac..146f0f8 100644
--- a/spec/couchrest/more/property_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/couchrest/more/property_spec.rb
@@ -59,6 +59,12 @@ describe "ExtendedDocument properties" do
       @card.errors.should_not be_empty
       @card.errors.on(:first_name).should == ["First name must not be blank"]
     end
+    
+    it "should let you look up errors for a field by a string name" do
+      @card.first_name = nil
+      @card.should_not be_valid
+      @card.errors.on('first_name').should == ["First name must not be blank"]
+    end
 
     it "should validate the presence of 2 attributes" do
       @invoice.clear