diff --git a/lib/cucumber/cli/profile_loader.rb b/lib/cucumber/cli/profile_loader.rb
index 5682cad04c..a84827a40d 100644
--- a/lib/cucumber/cli/profile_loader.rb
+++ b/lib/cucumber/cli/profile_loader.rb
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ def cucumber_yml
         require 'erb'
         require 'yaml'
         begin
-          @cucumber_erb = ERB.new(IO.read(cucumber_file)).result(binding)
+          @cucumber_erb = ERB.new(IO.read(cucumber_file), nil, '%').result(binding)
         rescue Exception => e
           raise(YmlLoadError,"cucumber.yml was found, but could not be parsed with ERB.  Please refer to cucumber's documentation on correct profile usage.\n#{$!.inspect}")
         end
diff --git a/spec/cucumber/cli/profile_loader_spec.rb b/spec/cucumber/cli/profile_loader_spec.rb
index 54b5543fef..713a9d35da 100644
--- a/spec/cucumber/cli/profile_loader_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/cucumber/cli/profile_loader_spec.rb
@@ -31,6 +31,16 @@ def loader
 
         expect(loader.args_from('default')).to eq ['--format','ugly','features/sync_imap_mailbox.feature:16:22']
       end
+
+      it "treats percent sign as ERB code block after YAML directive" do
+        yml = <<-HERE
+---
+% x = '--format "pretty" features/sync_imap_mailbox.feature:16:22'
+default: <%= x %>
+        HERE
+        given_cucumber_yml_defined_as yml
+        expect(loader.args_from('default')).to eq ['--format','pretty','features/sync_imap_mailbox.feature:16:22']
+      end
     end
   end
 end