diff --git a/sunspot_rails/lib/sunspot/rails/searchable.rb b/sunspot_rails/lib/sunspot/rails/searchable.rb
index f44cf0e96..bb5053367 100644
--- a/sunspot_rails/lib/sunspot/rails/searchable.rb
+++ b/sunspot_rails/lib/sunspot/rails/searchable.rb
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ def solr_reindex(options = {})
         #   Post.index(:include => :author) 
         #
         def solr_index(opts={})
-          options = { :batch_size => 500, :batch_commit => true, :include => self.sunspot_options[:include], :first_id => 0}.merge(opts)
+          options = { :batch_size => 500, :batch_commit => true, :include => self.sunspot_options[:include], :first_id => '0'}.merge(opts)
           unless options[:batch_size]
             Sunspot.index!(all(:include => options[:include]))
           else
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ def solr_index_updated_after(created_updated_after, opts={})
 	  options = { 
 	    :batch_commit => true, 
 	    :include => [], 
-	    :first_id => 0
+	    :first_id => '0'
 	    }.merge(opts)
 	  unless options[:batch_size]
 	    Sunspot.index!(all(