diff --git a/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js b/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js
index 211a9da4..21510660 100644
--- a/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js
+++ b/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js
@@ -8214,10 +8214,10 @@ getJasmineRequireObj().SpyStrategy = function(j$) {
    * @name SpyStrategy#throwError
    * @since 2.0.0
    * @function
-   * @param {Error|String} something Thing to throw
+   * @param {Error|Object|String} something Thing to throw
    */
   SpyStrategy.prototype.throwError = function(something) {
-    var error = something instanceof Error ? something : new Error(something);
+    var error = j$.isString_(something) ? new Error(something) : something;
     this.plan = function() {
       throw error;
     };
diff --git a/spec/core/SpyStrategySpec.js b/spec/core/SpyStrategySpec.js
index 5e454b64..76a3a1e2 100644
--- a/spec/core/SpyStrategySpec.js
+++ b/spec/core/SpyStrategySpec.js
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ describe('SpyStrategy', function() {
     expect(originalFn).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
-  it('allows a non-Error to be thrown, wrapping it into an exception when executed', function() {
+  it('allows a string to be thrown, wrapping it into an exception when executed', function() {
     var originalFn = jasmine.createSpy('original'),
       spyStrategy = new jasmineUnderTest.SpyStrategy({ fn: originalFn });
 
@@ -82,6 +82,18 @@ describe('SpyStrategy', function() {
     expect(originalFn).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
+  it('allows a non-Error to be thrown when executed', function() {
+    var originalFn = jasmine.createSpy('original'),
+      spyStrategy = new jasmineUnderTest.SpyStrategy({ fn: originalFn });
+
+    spyStrategy.throwError({ code: 'ESRCH' });
+
+    expect(function() {
+      spyStrategy.exec();
+    }).toThrow({ code: 'ESRCH' });
+    expect(originalFn).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
   it('allows a fake function to be called instead', function() {
     var originalFn = jasmine.createSpy('original'),
       fakeFn = jasmine.createSpy('fake').and.returnValue(67),
diff --git a/src/core/SpyStrategy.js b/src/core/SpyStrategy.js
index 7e86abd6..41aa9258 100644
--- a/src/core/SpyStrategy.js
+++ b/src/core/SpyStrategy.js
@@ -150,10 +150,10 @@ getJasmineRequireObj().SpyStrategy = function(j$) {
    * @name SpyStrategy#throwError
    * @since 2.0.0
    * @function
-   * @param {Error|String} something Thing to throw
+   * @param {Error|Object|String} something Thing to throw
    */
   SpyStrategy.prototype.throwError = function(something) {
-    var error = something instanceof Error ? something : new Error(something);
+    var error = j$.isString_(something) ? new Error(something) : something;
     this.plan = function() {
       throw error;
     };