diff --git a/lib/active_model/serializer.rb b/lib/active_model/serializer.rb
index 281af425..73b6ba42 100644
--- a/lib/active_model/serializer.rb
+++ b/lib/active_model/serializer.rb
@@ -337,6 +337,7 @@ module ActiveModel
     # Returns a json representation of the serializable
     # object including the root.
     def as_json(options={})
+      options ||= {}
       if root = options.fetch(:root, @options.fetch(:root, root_name))
         @options[:hash] = hash = {}
         @options[:unique_values] = {}
diff --git a/test/serializer_test.rb b/test/serializer_test.rb
index 6c7cf7b9..2ef49a87 100644
--- a/test/serializer_test.rb
+++ b/test/serializer_test.rb
@@ -1449,4 +1449,17 @@ class SerializerTest < ActiveModel::TestCase
       }
     }, post_serializer.as_json)
   end
+
+  def test_as_json_with_nil_options
+    user = User.new
+    user_serializer = DefaultUserSerializer.new(user, {})
+
+    # ActiveSupport 3.1 Object#to_json generates this downstream call
+    assert_equal({
+      :default_user => {
+        :first_name => "Jose",
+        :last_name => "Valim"
+      }
+    }, user_serializer.as_json(nil))
+  end
 end