diff --git a/lib/plist/parser.rb b/lib/plist/parser.rb
index 81a23ad..7a4ce12 100755
--- a/lib/plist/parser.rb
+++ b/lib/plist/parser.rb
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def tag_start(name, attributes)
 
     def text(contents)
       if @open.last
-        @open.last.text ||= String.new
+        @open.last.text ||= ''.dup
         @open.last.text.concat(contents)
       end
     end