diff --git a/lib/rabl-rails.rb b/lib/rabl-rails.rb
index d6b645b..830c797 100644
--- a/lib/rabl-rails.rb
+++ b/lib/rabl-rails.rb
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ module RablRails
   @@include_json_root = true
 
   mattr_reader :json_engine
-  @@json_engine = :yajl
 
   mattr_accessor :use_custom_responder
   @@use_custom_responder = false
@@ -42,7 +41,7 @@ module RablRails
   end
 
   def self.json_engine=(name)
-    MultiJson.engine = name
+    MultiJson.respond_to?(:use) ? MultiJson.use(name) : MultiJson.engine = name
     @@json_engine = name
   rescue LoadError
     Rails.logger.warn %Q(WARNING: rabl-rails could not load "#{self.json_engine}" as JSON engine, fallback to default)
@@ -53,6 +52,6 @@ module RablRails
   end
 
   def self.load_default_engines!
-    self.json_engine = :yajl
+    self.json_engine = MultiJson.respond_to?(default_adapter) ? MultiJson.default_adapter : MultiJson.default_engine
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/rabl-rails/renderers/json.rb b/lib/rabl-rails/renderers/json.rb
index 632aaec..5ab487a 100644
--- a/lib/rabl-rails/renderers/json.rb
+++ b/lib/rabl-rails/renderers/json.rb
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module RablRails
     class JSON < Base
       def format_output(hash)
         hash = { _options[:root_name] => hash } if _options[:root_name] && RablRails.include_json_root
-        MultiJson.encode(hash)
+        MultiJson.respond_to?(:dump) ? MultiJson.dump(hash) : MultiJson.encode(hash)
       end
     end
   end