diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 535d2b86..29f996ea 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 # HEAD
 
+* Fix `ensure_length_of` so that it uses the right message to validate when
+  `is_equal_to` is specified in conjunction with a custom message.
+
 * Fix Rails/Test::Unit integration to ensure that the test case classes we are
   re-opening actually exist.
 
diff --git a/lib/shoulda/matchers/active_model/ensure_length_of_matcher.rb b/lib/shoulda/matchers/active_model/ensure_length_of_matcher.rb
index 7aa4f6c2..81717afb 100644
--- a/lib/shoulda/matchers/active_model/ensure_length_of_matcher.rb
+++ b/lib/shoulda/matchers/active_model/ensure_length_of_matcher.rb
@@ -68,7 +68,6 @@ module Shoulda # :nodoc:
           end
           self
         end
-        alias_method :with_message, :with_short_message
 
         def with_long_message(message)
           if message
@@ -77,6 +76,14 @@ module Shoulda # :nodoc:
           self
         end
 
+        def with_message(message)
+          if message
+            @short_message = message
+            @long_message = message
+          end
+          self
+        end
+
         def description
           description =  "ensure #{@attribute} has a length "
           if @options.key?(:minimum) && @options.key?(:maximum)
diff --git a/spec/shoulda/matchers/active_model/ensure_length_of_matcher_spec.rb b/spec/shoulda/matchers/active_model/ensure_length_of_matcher_spec.rb
index 36f26db7..ddcf036e 100644
--- a/spec/shoulda/matchers/active_model/ensure_length_of_matcher_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/shoulda/matchers/active_model/ensure_length_of_matcher_spec.rb
@@ -98,6 +98,13 @@ describe Shoulda::Matchers::ActiveModel::EnsureLengthOfMatcher do
     end
   end
 
+  context 'an attribute with a custom equal validation' do
+    it 'accepts ensuring the correct exact length' do
+      validating_length(:is => 4, :message => 'foobar').
+        should ensure_length_of(:attr).is_equal_to(4).with_message(/foo/)
+    end
+  end
+
   context 'an attribute without a length validation' do
     it 'rejects ensuring a minimum length' do
       define_model(:example, :attr => :string).new.