1 files changed, 2 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/ruby/src/main/java/com/google/protobuf/jruby/RubyMessage.java b/ruby/src/main/java/com/google/protobuf/jruby/RubyMessage.java
index 07558fbc..c3a0d81c 100644
--- a/ruby/src/main/java/com/google/protobuf/jruby/RubyMessage.java
+++ b/ruby/src/main/java/com/google/protobuf/jruby/RubyMessage.java
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ public class RubyMessage extends RubyObject {
                         throw runtime.newTypeError("Expected string or symbols as hash keys in initialization map.");
                     final Descriptors.FieldDescriptor fieldDescriptor = findField(context, key);
 
+                    if (value.isNil()) return;
+
                     if (Utils.isMapEntry(fieldDescriptor)) {
                         if (!(value instanceof RubyHash))
                             throw runtime.newArgumentError("Expected Hash object as initializer value for map field '" +  key.asJavaString() + "'.");