diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/requirements/emacs_requirement.rb b/Library/Homebrew/requirements/emacs_requirement.rb
index 591b7babb1..737f572648 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/requirements/emacs_requirement.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/requirements/emacs_requirement.rb
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ class EmacsRequirement < Requirement
   default_formula "emacs"
 
   def initialize(tags)
-    @version = tags.shift if /\d+\.*\d*/ === tags.first
+    @version = tags.shift if /\d+\.*\d*/ =~ tags.first
     super
   end