diff --git a/map_claims.go b/map_claims.go
index 90ab6bea..bcc37b15 100644
--- a/map_claims.go
+++ b/map_claims.go
@@ -13,15 +13,23 @@ type MapClaims map[string]interface{}
 // Compares the aud claim against cmp.
 // If required is false, this method will return true if the value matches or is unset
 func (m MapClaims) VerifyAudience(cmp string, req bool) bool {
-	aud, ok := m["aud"].([]string)
-	if !ok {
-		strAud, ok := m["aud"].(string)
-		if !ok {
-			return false
+	var aud []string
+	switch v := m["aud"].(type) {
+	case []string:
+		aud = v
+	case []interface{}:
+		for _, a := range v {
+			vs, ok := a.(string)
+			if !ok {
+				return false
+			}
+			aud = append(aud, vs)
 		}
-		aud = append(aud, strAud)
+	case string:
+		aud = append(aud, v)
+	default:
+		return false
 	}
-
 	return verifyAud(aud, cmp, req)
 }
 
diff --git a/map_claims_test.go b/map_claims_test.go
index d5255a4d..47715d41 100644
--- a/map_claims_test.go
+++ b/map_claims_test.go
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ package jwt
 
 import "testing"
 
-func Test_mapClaims_list_aud(t *testing.T){
+func Test_mapClaims_list_aud(t *testing.T) {
 	mapClaims := MapClaims{
 		"aud": []string{"foo"},
 	}
@@ -13,7 +13,18 @@ func Test_mapClaims_list_aud(t *testing.T){
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to verify claims, wanted: %v got %v", want, got)
 	}
 }
-func Test_mapClaims_string_aud(t *testing.T){
+func Test_mapClaims_list_interface_aud(t *testing.T) {
+	mapClaims := MapClaims{
+		"aud": []interface{}{"foo"},
+	}
+	want := true
+	got := mapClaims.VerifyAudience("foo", true)
+
+	if want != got {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to verify claims, wanted: %v got %v", want, got)
+	}
+}
+func Test_mapClaims_string_aud(t *testing.T) {
 	mapClaims := MapClaims{
 		"aud": "foo",
 	}
@@ -25,7 +36,7 @@ func Test_mapClaims_string_aud(t *testing.T){
 	}
 }
 
-func Test_mapClaims_list_aud_no_match(t *testing.T){
+func Test_mapClaims_list_aud_no_match(t *testing.T) {
 	mapClaims := MapClaims{
 		"aud": []string{"bar"},
 	}
@@ -36,7 +47,7 @@ func Test_mapClaims_list_aud_no_match(t *testing.T){
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to verify claims, wanted: %v got %v", want, got)
 	}
 }
-func Test_mapClaims_string_aud_fail(t *testing.T){
+func Test_mapClaims_string_aud_fail(t *testing.T) {
 	mapClaims := MapClaims{
 		"aud": "bar",
 	}
@@ -48,9 +59,8 @@ func Test_mapClaims_string_aud_fail(t *testing.T){
 	}
 }
 
-func Test_mapClaims_string_aud_no_claim(t *testing.T){
-	mapClaims := MapClaims{
-	}
+func Test_mapClaims_string_aud_no_claim(t *testing.T) {
+	mapClaims := MapClaims{}
 	want := false
 	got := mapClaims.VerifyAudience("foo", true)
 
@@ -59,13 +69,12 @@ func Test_mapClaims_string_aud_no_claim(t *testing.T){
 	}
 }
 
-func Test_mapClaims_string_aud_no_claim_not_required(t *testing.T){
-	mapClaims := MapClaims{
-	}
+func Test_mapClaims_string_aud_no_claim_not_required(t *testing.T) {
+	mapClaims := MapClaims{}
 	want := false
 	got := mapClaims.VerifyAudience("foo", false)
 
 	if want != got {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to verify claims, wanted: %v got %v", want, got)
 	}
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}