diff --git a/lib/jenkins_api_client/client.rb b/lib/jenkins_api_client/client.rb
index 53be5e4d..b9edcdaa 100644
--- a/lib/jenkins_api_client/client.rb
+++ b/lib/jenkins_api_client/client.rb
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ class Client
     # @raise [ArgumentError] when required options are not provided.
     #
     def initialize(args)
+      args = symbolize_keys(args)
       args.each do |key, value|
         if value && VALID_PARAMS.include?(key.to_s)
           instance_variable_set("@#{key}", value)
@@ -683,6 +684,25 @@ def refresh_crumbs(force_refresh = false)
       end
     end
 
+    # Private method.  Converts keys passed in as strings into symbols.
+    #
+    # @param hash [Hash] Hash containing arguments to login to jenkins.
+    #
+    def symbolize_keys(hash)
+      hash.inject({}){|result, (key, value)|
+        new_key = case key
+          when String then key.to_sym
+          else key
+          end
+        new_value = case value
+          when Hash then symbolize_keys(value)
+          else value
+          end
+        result[new_key] = new_value
+        result
+      }
+    end
+
     # Private method that handles the exception and raises with proper error
     # message with the type of exception and returns the required values if no
     # exceptions are raised.
diff --git a/scripts/login_with_irb.rb b/scripts/login_with_irb.rb
index aff8f0cc..a4c51304 100644
--- a/scripts/login_with_irb.rb
+++ b/scripts/login_with_irb.rb
@@ -38,8 +38,9 @@ def get_from_stdin(prompt, mask = false)
 end
 
 begin
-  client_opts = YAML.load_file(File.expand_path(config_file))
-  unless client_opts.has_key?(:username)
+  client_opts = Hash[YAML.load_file(File.expand_path(config_file)).map { | (k,v) | [k.to_sym, v]} ]
+
+  unless client_opts.has_key?(:username) 
     client_opts[:username] = prompt_for_username()
   end
   unless client_opts.has_key?(:password) or client_opts.has_key?(:password_base64)