diff --git a/lib/cmock_config.rb b/lib/cmock_config.rb
index 1f1bbb3..b9bf444 100644
--- a/lib/cmock_config.rb
+++ b/lib/cmock_config.rb
@@ -44,10 +44,11 @@ class CMockConfig
         puts "WARNING: :#{opt.to_s} should be an array." unless (options[:verbosity] < 1)
       end
     end
-
+    options[:plugins].compact!
+    options[:plugins].map! {|p| p.to_sym}
     @options = options
     @options[:treat_as].merge!(standard_treat_as_map)
-    @options.each_key { |key| eval("def #{key}() return @options[:#{key}] end") }
+    @options.each_key { |key| eval("def #{key.to_s}() return @options[:#{key.to_s}] end") }
   end
   
   def load_config_file_from_yaml yaml_filename
diff --git a/test/unit/cmock_config_test.rb b/test/unit/cmock_config_test.rb
index 04007e5..bafd544 100644
--- a/test/unit/cmock_config_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/cmock_config_test.rb
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ class CMockConfigTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
   end
   
   should "replace only options specified in a yaml file" do
-    test_plugins = ['soda','pizza']
+    test_plugins = [:soda, :pizza]
     test_include = 'MySillyException.h'
     config = CMockConfig.new("#{File.expand_path(File.dirname(__FILE__))}/cmock_config_test.yml")
     assert_equal(CMockConfig::CMockDefaultOptions[:mock_path],              config.mock_path)