diff --git a/lib/diaspora_federation.rb b/lib/diaspora_federation.rb
index 1016787..b3edaa5 100644
--- a/lib/diaspora_federation.rb
+++ b/lib/diaspora_federation.rb
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ module DiasporaFederation
     # the class to use as +Person+
     #
     # @example
-    #   config.person_class = Person.to_s
+    #   config.person_class = Person
     #
     # This class must have the following class methods:::
     #
@@ -87,6 +87,11 @@ module DiasporaFederation
     #   +last_name+: last name
     #     "Name"
     attr_accessor :person_class
+
+    def person_class=(klass)
+      @person_class = klass.to_s
+    end
+
     def person_class
       const_get(@person_class)
     end
diff --git a/test/dummy/config/initializers/diaspora_federation.rb b/test/dummy/config/initializers/diaspora_federation.rb
index fa3b1f6..26026c4 100644
--- a/test/dummy/config/initializers/diaspora_federation.rb
+++ b/test/dummy/config/initializers/diaspora_federation.rb
@@ -4,5 +4,5 @@ DiasporaFederation.configure do |config|
   config.server_uri = URI("http://localhost:3000/")
 
   # the class to be used for a person
-  config.person_class = Person.to_s
+  config.person_class = Person
 end