diff --git a/modules/angular2/src/compiler/compile_metadata.ts b/modules/angular2/src/compiler/compile_metadata.ts
index 4be4e5e215..36d63f7514 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/src/compiler/compile_metadata.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/src/compiler/compile_metadata.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import {
 } from 'angular2/src/core/change_detection/change_detection';
 import {ViewEncapsulation, VIEW_ENCAPSULATION_VALUES} from 'angular2/src/core/metadata/view';
 import {CssSelector} from 'angular2/src/compiler/selector';
-import {splitAtColon} from './util';
+import {splitAtColon, sanitizeIdentifier} from './util';
 import {LifecycleHooks, LIFECYCLE_HOOKS_VALUES} from 'angular2/src/core/metadata/lifecycle_hooks';
 import {getUrlScheme} from './url_resolver';
 
@@ -318,7 +318,9 @@ export class CompileTokenMetadata implements CompileMetadataWithIdentifier {
            (isPresent(ak) && ak == token2.assetCacheKey);
   }
 
-  get name(): string { return isPresent(this.value) ? this.value : this.identifier.name; }
+  get name(): string {
+    return isPresent(this.value) ? sanitizeIdentifier(this.value) : this.identifier.name;
+  }
 }
 
 export class CompileTokenMap<VALUE> {
diff --git a/modules/angular2/test/core/linker/regression_integration_spec.ts b/modules/angular2/test/core/linker/regression_integration_spec.ts
index e0993791df..1570e92c24 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/test/core/linker/regression_integration_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/test/core/linker/regression_integration_spec.ts
@@ -92,6 +92,17 @@ function declareTests(isJit: boolean) {
                });
          }));
 
+      it('should support providers with string token with a `.` in it',
+         inject([TestComponentBuilder, AsyncTestCompleter], (tcb: TestComponentBuilder, async) => {
+           var token = 'a.b';
+           var tokenValue = 1;
+           createInjector(tcb, [provide(token, {useValue: tokenValue})])
+               .then((injector: Injector) => {
+                 expect(injector.get(token)).toEqual(tokenValue);
+                 async.done();
+               });
+         }));
+
       it('should support providers with an anonymous function',
          inject([TestComponentBuilder, AsyncTestCompleter], (tcb: TestComponentBuilder, async) => {
            var token = () => true;