diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/helpers.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/helpers.rb
index eb2b4fa7ab..e664ab2856 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/helpers.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/helpers.rb
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ module ActionController #:nodoc:
           inherited_without_helper(child)
           begin
             child.helper(child.controller_name)
-          rescue Object
+          rescue NameError, LoadError
             # No default helper available for this controller
           end
         end        
diff --git a/activesupport/lib/dependencies.rb b/activesupport/lib/dependencies.rb
index e5e806b65a..7f53998e7a 100644
--- a/activesupport/lib/dependencies.rb
+++ b/activesupport/lib/dependencies.rb
@@ -18,8 +18,10 @@ module Dependencies
       loaded << file_name
       begin
         require_or_load(file_name)
+      rescue LoadError
+        raise unless swallow_load_errors
       rescue Object => e
-        raise ScriptError, "#{e.message}" unless e.is_a?(LoadError) && swallow_load_errors
+        raise ScriptError, "#{e.message}"
       end
     end
   end