fixme.patch

diff --git a/merb-core/lib/merb-core/core_ext/kernel.rb b/merb-core/lib/merb-cor
index f5afea0..0a655e1 100644
--- a/merb-core/lib/merb-core/core_ext/kernel.rb
+++ b/merb-core/lib/merb-core/core_ext/kernel.rb
@@ -142,8 +142,13 @@ module Kernel
       return unless dep.require_as
       Gem.activate(dep)
     rescue Gem::LoadError => e
-      e.set_backtrace dep.original_caller
-      Merb.fatal! "The gem #{name}, #{ver.inspect} was not found", e
+      begin
+        Merb.debug "Falling back to a regular require"
+        require name
+      rescue LoadError => le
+        e.set_backtrace dep.original_caller
+        Merb.fatal! "The gem #{name}, #{ver.inspect} was not found, and we coul
+      end
     end
   
     begin