diff --git a/lib/nats/client.rb b/lib/nats/client.rb
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/lib/nats/client.rb
+++ b/lib/nats/client.rb
@@ -590,7 +590,7 @@ module NATS
   end
 
   def process_info(info) #:nodoc:
-    @server_info = JSON.parse(info, :symbolize_keys => true, :symbolize_names => true)
+    @server_info = JSON.parse(info, :symbolize_keys => true, :symbolize_names => true, :symbol_keys => true)
     if @server_info[:ssl_required] && @ssl
       start_tls
     else
diff --git a/lib/nats/ext/json.rb b/lib/nats/ext/json.rb
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/lib/nats/ext/json.rb
+++ b/lib/nats/ext/json.rb
@@ -2,6 +2,11 @@ begin
   require 'yajl'
   require 'yajl/json_gem'
 rescue LoadError
-  require 'rubygems'
-  require 'json'
+  begin
+    require 'oj'
+    Oj.mimic_JSON()
+  rescue LoadError
+    require 'rubygems'
+    require 'json'
+  end
 end
Added support for the Oj JSON parser.