diff --git a/lib/jsonpath.rb b/lib/jsonpath.rb
index 0bd509d..0388f62 100644
--- a/lib/jsonpath.rb
+++ b/lib/jsonpath.rb
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ def join(join_path)
 
   def on(obj_or_str, opts = {})
     a = enum_on(obj_or_str).to_a
-    if opts[:symbolize_keys]
+    if symbolize_keys?(opts)
       a.map! do |e|
         e.each_with_object({}) { |(k, v), memo| memo[k.to_sym] = v; }
       end
@@ -153,4 +153,8 @@ def set_max_nesting
     return unless @opts[:max_nesting].is_a?(Integer) && @opts[:max_nesting] > MAX_NESTING_ALLOWED
     @opts[:max_nesting] = false
   end
+
+  def symbolize_keys?(opts)
+    opts.fetch(:symbolize_keys, @opts&.dig(:symbolize_keys))
+  end
 end
diff --git a/test/test_jsonpath.rb b/test/test_jsonpath.rb
index 5ab02d7..80fa0bb 100644
--- a/test/test_jsonpath.rb
+++ b/test/test_jsonpath.rb
@@ -1312,4 +1312,10 @@ def test_extractore_with_dollar_key
     assert_equal ["success"],  JsonPath.on(json, "$.test.$")
     assert_equal ["123"],  JsonPath.on(json, "$.test.a")
   end
+
+  def test_symbolize_key
+    data = { "store" => { "book" => [{"category" => "reference"}]}}
+    assert_equal [{"category": "reference"}],  JsonPath.new('$..book[0]', symbolize_keys: true).on(data)
+    assert_equal [{"category": "reference"}],  JsonPath.new('$..book[0]').on(data, symbolize_keys: true)
+  end
 end