diff --git a/lib/mongoid/fields/localized.rb b/lib/mongoid/fields/localized.rb
index d0a3d3d382..e0a0ac9f49 100644
--- a/lib/mongoid/fields/localized.rb
+++ b/lib/mongoid/fields/localized.rb
@@ -15,7 +15,10 @@ class Localized < Standard
       # @return [ Object ] The value for the current locale.
       def demongoize(object)
         return if object.nil?
-        type.demongoize(lookup(object))
+        case object
+        when Hash
+          type.demongoize(lookup(object))
+        end
       end
 
       # Is the field localized or not?
diff --git a/spec/mongoid/fields/localized_spec.rb b/spec/mongoid/fields/localized_spec.rb
index 52513ed2e0..b3009bfc4b 100644
--- a/spec/mongoid/fields/localized_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/mongoid/fields/localized_spec.rb
@@ -113,6 +113,18 @@
           end
         end
 
+
+        context "passing a bogus value" do
+
+          let(:value) do
+            field.demongoize("bogus")
+          end
+
+          it "returns nil" do
+            expect(value).to be_nil
+          end
+        end
+
         context "when the value does not exist" do
 
           context "when not using fallbacks" do