diff --git a/lib/validates_timeliness/validator.rb b/lib/validates_timeliness/validator.rb
index 08d2700..aee01fe 100644
--- a/lib/validates_timeliness/validator.rb
+++ b/lib/validates_timeliness/validator.rb
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ module ValidatesTimeliness
 
     def add_error(record, attr_name, message, value=nil)
       value = format_error_value(value) if value
-      message_options = { :message => (options[:"#{message}_message"] || options[:message]), :restriction => value }
+      message_options = { :message => options.fetch(:"#{message}_message", options[:message]), :restriction => value }
       record.errors.add(attr_name, message, message_options)
     end