diff --git a/lib/Cake/View/Helper.php b/lib/Cake/View/Helper.php
index 5ed869461a..7512e5c899 100644
--- a/lib/Cake/View/Helper.php
+++ b/lib/Cake/View/Helper.php
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ public function setEntity($entity, $setScope = false) {
  * @return array An array containing the identity elements of an entity
  */
 	public function entity() {
-		return explode('.', $this->_entityPath);
+		return explode('.', (string)$this->_entityPath);
 	}
 
 /**