diff --git a/lib/i18n_backend_database/database.rb b/lib/i18n_backend_database/database.rb
index 44bdd9b..fe93446 100644
--- a/lib/i18n_backend_database/database.rb
+++ b/lib/i18n_backend_database/database.rb
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ def translate(locale, key, options = {})
         # create a composite key if scope provided
         original_key = key
         options[:scope] = [options[:scope]] unless options[:scope].is_a?(Array)
-        key = "#{options[:scope].join('.')}.#{key}" if options[:scope] && key.is_a?(Symbol)
+        key = :"#{options[:scope].join('.')}.#{key}" if options[:scope] && key.is_a?(Symbol)
         count = (options[:count].nil? || options[:count] == 1) ? 1 : 0
         cache_key = Translation.ck(@locale, key, count)
 
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ def translate(locale, key, options = {})
 
         if @cache_store.exist?(cache_key)
           translation = @cache_store.read(cache_key)
+          return translation if translation.nil? && @locale.default_locale?
           return interpolate(@locale.code, translation, values) if translation
         else
           translation =  @locale.translations.find_by_key_and_pluralization_index(Translation.hk(key), count)
diff --git a/lib/models/locale.rb b/lib/models/locale.rb
index c9bf852..52c4f28 100644
--- a/lib/models/locale.rb
+++ b/lib/models/locale.rb
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ def translation_from_key(key)
   def create_translation(key, value, pluralization_index=1)
     conditions = {:key => key, :pluralization_index => pluralization_index}
 
-    # set the key as the value if we're using the default locale
-    conditions.merge!({:value => value}) if (self.code == I18n.default_locale.to_s)
+    # set the key as the value if we're using the default locale and the key is a string
+    conditions.merge!({:value => value}) if (self.code == I18n.default_locale.to_s && key.is_a?(String))
     translation = self.translations.create(conditions)
 
     # hackity hack.  bug #922 maybe?
diff --git a/lib/models/translation.rb b/lib/models/translation.rb
index 41d6a8a..7da1113 100644
--- a/lib/models/translation.rb
+++ b/lib/models/translation.rb
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ def value_or_default(key)
 
   # create hash key
   def self.hk(key)
-    Base64.encode64(Digest::MD5.hexdigest(key))
+    Base64.encode64(Digest::MD5.hexdigest(key.to_s))
   end
 
   # create cache key
diff --git a/spec/translate_spec.rb b/spec/translate_spec.rb
index 14406f9..8c32266 100644
--- a/spec/translate_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/translate_spec.rb
@@ -33,18 +33,45 @@
         @english_locale.should have(1).translation
       end
 
+      it "should support having a record with a nil value" do
+        @english_locale.translations.create!(:key => '.date.order')
+        @backend.translate("en", :'date.order').should be_nil
+        @english_locale.should have(1).translation
+      end
+
+      it "should create a record with a nil value when key is a symbol" do
+        @backend.translate("en", :'date.order').should be_nil
+        @english_locale.should have(1).translation
+        @english_locale.translations.first.key.should == Translation.hk('.date.order')
+        @english_locale.translations.first.value.should be_nil
+      end
+
       it "should find a cached record from a cache key if it exists in the cache" do
         hash_key = Translation.hk("blah")
         @backend.cache_store.write("en:#{hash_key}:1", 'woot')
         @backend.translate("en", "blah").should == "woot"
       end
 
+      it "should find a cached record with a nil value from a cache key if it exists in the cache" do
+        hash_key = Translation.hk(".date.order")
+        @backend.cache_store.write("en:#{hash_key}:1", nil)
+        @backend.translate("en", :'date.order').should be_nil
+      end
+
       it "should write a cache record to the cache for a newly created translation record" do
         hash_key = Translation.hk("blah")
         @backend.translate("en", "blah")
         @backend.cache_store.read("en:#{hash_key}:1").should == "blah"
       end
 
+      it "should write a cache record to the cache for translation record with nil value" do
+        @english_locale.translations.create!(:key => '.date.order')
+        @backend.translate("en", :'date.order').should be_nil
+
+        hash_key = Translation.hk(".date.order")
+        @backend.cache_store.read("en:#{hash_key}:1").should be_nil
+      end
+
       it "should handle active record helper defaults, where default is the object name" do
         options = {:count=>1, :scope=>[:activerecord, :models], :default=>"post"}
         @english_locale.translations.create!(:key => 'activerecord.errors.models.blank', :value => 'post')
@@ -175,6 +202,15 @@
         @spanish_locale.should have(1).translation
       end
 
+      it "should support having a default locale record with a nil value" do
+        @english_locale.translations.create!(:key => '.date.order')
+        @backend.translate("es", :'date.order').should be_nil
+
+        @spanish_locale.should have(1).translation
+        @spanish_locale.translations.first.key.should == Translation.hk('.date.order')
+        @spanish_locale.translations.first.value.should be_nil
+      end
+
       it "should be able to handle interpolated values" do
         options = {:some_value => 'INTERPOLATED'}
         @english_locale.translations.create!(:key => 'Fred', :value => 'Fred has been {{some_value}}!!')