diff --git a/lib/yaml/store.rb b/lib/yaml/store.rb
index f24e4ad332..859621d271 100644
--- a/lib/yaml/store.rb
+++ b/lib/yaml/store.rb
@@ -69,8 +69,8 @@ class YAML::Store < PStore
   end
 
   def load(content)
-    table = YAML.respond_to?(:unsafe_load) ? YAML.unsafe_load(content) : YAML.load(content)
-    if table == false
+    table = YAML.respond_to?(:safe_load) ? YAML.safe_load(content, permitted_classes: [Symbol]) : YAML.load(content)
+    if table == false || table == nil
       {}
     else
       table