diff --git a/lib/vmpooler/api/v1.rb b/lib/vmpooler/api/v1.rb
index ff473e2..2c39b45 100644
--- a/lib/vmpooler/api/v1.rb
+++ b/lib/vmpooler/api/v1.rb
@@ -893,7 +893,7 @@ module Vmpooler
               need_token! if Vmpooler::API.settings.config[:auth]
 
               # in hours, defaults to one week
-              max_lifetime_upper_limit = config[:max_lifetime_upper_limit]
+              max_lifetime_upper_limit = config['max_lifetime_upper_limit']
               if max_lifetime_upper_limit
                 max_lifetime_upper_limit = max_lifetime_upper_limit.to_i
                 if arg.to_i >= max_lifetime_upper_limit
diff --git a/spec/integration/api/v1/vm_hostname_spec.rb b/spec/integration/api/v1/vm_hostname_spec.rb
index c534224..81aa6d0 100644
--- a/spec/integration/api/v1/vm_hostname_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/integration/api/v1/vm_hostname_spec.rb
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ describe Vmpooler::API::V1 do
 
         it 'does not allow a lifetime to be initially past config 168' do
           app.settings.set :config,
-                           { :config => { :max_lifetime_upper_limit => 168 } }
+                           { :config => { 'max_lifetime_upper_limit' => 168 } }
           create_vm('testhost')
 
           put "#{prefix}/vm/testhost", '{"lifetime":"200"}'
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ describe Vmpooler::API::V1 do
 
         it 'does not allow a lifetime to be extended past config 168' do
           app.settings.set :config,
-                           { :config => { :max_lifetime_upper_limit => 168 } }
+                           { :config => { 'max_lifetime_upper_limit' => 168 } }
           create_vm('testhost')
 
           set_vm_data('testhost', "checkout", (Time.now - (69*60*60)))