diff --git a/config/boot.rb b/config/boot.rb
--- a/config/boot.rb
+++ b/config/boot.rb
@@ -82,14 +82,14 @@
 
       def load_rubygems
         require 'rubygems'
-
-        unless rubygems_version >= '0.9.4'
-          $stderr.puts %(Rails requires RubyGems >= 0.9.4 (you have #{rubygems_version}). Please `gem update --system` and try again.)
+        min_version = '1.1.1'
+        unless rubygems_version >= min_version
+          $stderr.puts %Q(Rails requires RubyGems >= #{min_version} (you have #{rubygems_version}). Please `gem update --system` and try again.)
           exit 1
         end
 
       rescue LoadError
-        $stderr.puts %(Rails requires RubyGems >= 0.9.4. Please install RubyGems and try again: http://rubygems.rubyforge.org)
+        $stderr.puts %Q(Rails requires RubyGems >= #{min_version}. Please install RubyGems and try again: http://rubygems.rubyforge.org)
         exit 1
       end