diff --git a/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Mapping/Driver/XmlDriver.php b/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Mapping/Driver/XmlDriver.php
index 5e146d2a7..acff179bf 100644
--- a/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Mapping/Driver/XmlDriver.php
+++ b/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Mapping/Driver/XmlDriver.php
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ class XmlDriver extends AbstractFileDriver
                 }
                 
                 if (isset($fieldMapping['options'])) {
-                    $mapping['options'] = $fieldMapping['options'];
+                    $mapping['options'] = (array)$fieldMapping['options'];
                 }
                 
                 if (isset($fieldMapping['version']) && $fieldMapping['version']) {