diff --git a/lib/redistat/label.rb b/lib/redistat/label.rb
index 5757463..e7a4750 100644
--- a/lib/redistat/label.rb
+++ b/lib/redistat/label.rb
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ module Redistat
     attr_reader :hash
     
     def initialize(str)
-      @name = str
+      @name = str.to_s
       @hash = Digest::SHA1.hexdigest(@name)
     end