diff --git a/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js b/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js
index 93e5883f..67fb411c 100644
--- a/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js
+++ b/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js
@@ -2630,11 +2630,15 @@ getJasmineRequireObj().toHaveBeenCalledWith = function(j$) {
   return toHaveBeenCalledWith;
 };
 
-getJasmineRequireObj().toMatch = function() {
+getJasmineRequireObj().toMatch = function(j$) {
 
   function toMatch() {
     return {
       compare: function(actual, expected) {
+        if (!j$.isString_(expected) && !j$.isA_('RegExp', expected)) {
+          throw new Error('Expected is not a String or a RegExp');
+        }
+
         var regexp = new RegExp(expected);
 
         return {
diff --git a/spec/core/matchers/toMatchSpec.js b/spec/core/matchers/toMatchSpec.js
index ae4c2e8e..dee3e774 100644
--- a/spec/core/matchers/toMatchSpec.js
+++ b/spec/core/matchers/toMatchSpec.js
@@ -30,5 +30,13 @@ describe("toMatch", function() {
     result = matcher.compare('bar', 'foo');
     expect(result.pass).toBe(false);
   });
+
+  it("throws an Error when the expected is not a String or RegExp", function() {
+    var matcher = j$.matchers.toMatch();
+
+    expect(function() {
+      matcher.compare('foo', { bar: 'baz' });
+    }).toThrowError('Expected is not a String or a RegExp');
+  });
 });
 
diff --git a/src/core/matchers/toMatch.js b/src/core/matchers/toMatch.js
index 38309fd0..df7ded5e 100644
--- a/src/core/matchers/toMatch.js
+++ b/src/core/matchers/toMatch.js
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
-getJasmineRequireObj().toMatch = function() {
+getJasmineRequireObj().toMatch = function(j$) {
 
   function toMatch() {
     return {
       compare: function(actual, expected) {
+        if (!j$.isString_(expected) && !j$.isA_('RegExp', expected)) {
+          throw new Error('Expected is not a String or a RegExp');
+        }
+
         var regexp = new RegExp(expected);
 
         return {