diff --git a/lib/shoulda/matchers/active_model/allow_value_matcher/attribute_setter.rb b/lib/shoulda/matchers/active_model/allow_value_matcher/attribute_setter.rb
index e4912299..7fad3141 100644
--- a/lib/shoulda/matchers/active_model/allow_value_matcher/attribute_setter.rb
+++ b/lib/shoulda/matchers/active_model/allow_value_matcher/attribute_setter.rb
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ module Shoulda
           end
 
           def set
-            object.public_send("#{attribute_name}=".to_sym, value_written)
+            object.public_send("#{attribute_name}=", value_written)
             after_set_callback.call
 
             @result_of_checking = successful_check
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ module Shoulda
           end
 
           def value_read
-            @_value_read ||= object.public_send(attribute_name.to_sym)
+            @_value_read ||= String.new(object.public_send(attribute_name))
           end
 
           def attribute_changed_value?
diff --git a/lib/shoulda/matchers/util.rb b/lib/shoulda/matchers/util.rb
index 6e2e714f..30740dd2 100644
--- a/lib/shoulda/matchers/util.rb
+++ b/lib/shoulda/matchers/util.rb
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ module Shoulda
           inspect_hash(value)
         when Range
           inspect_range(value)
+        when String
+          String.new(value)
         else
           "‹#{value.inspect}›"
         end