diff --git a/lib/rake/task_manager.rb b/lib/rake/task_manager.rb
index 97e3b9459..0db5c241e 100644
--- a/lib/rake/task_manager.rb
+++ b/lib/rake/task_manager.rb
@@ -300,8 +300,8 @@ def make_sources(task_name, task_pattern, extensions)
         when /^\./
           source = task_name.sub(task_pattern, ext)
           source == ext ? task_name.ext(ext) : source
-        when String
-          ext
+        when String, Symbol
+          ext.to_s
         when Proc, Method
           if ext.arity == 1
             ext.call(task_name)
diff --git a/test/test_rake_rules.rb b/test/test_rake_rules.rb
index bfb8e775f..e20df9350 100644
--- a/test/test_rake_rules.rb
+++ b/test/test_rake_rules.rb
@@ -80,6 +80,17 @@ def test_rule_prereqs_can_be_created_by_string
     assert_equal [OBJFILE], @runs
   end
 
+  def test_rule_prereqs_can_be_created_by_symbol
+    task :nonfile do |t|
+      @runs << t.name
+    end
+    rule ".o" => :nonfile do |t|
+      @runs << t.name
+    end
+    Task[OBJFILE].invoke
+    assert_equal ["nonfile", OBJFILE], @runs
+  end
+
   def test_plain_strings_as_dependents_refer_to_files
     create_file(SRCFILE)
     rule ".o" => SRCFILE do |t|