diff --git a/gem_prelude.rb b/gem_prelude.rb
index 1c57c943ad..d25cc49f25 100644
--- a/gem_prelude.rb
+++ b/gem_prelude.rb
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
-require 'rubygems.rb' if defined?(Gem)
+begin
+  require 'rubygems.rb'
+rescue LoadError
+end if defined?(Gem)
 
 begin
   require 'did_you_mean'