diff --git a/dpath/segments.py b/dpath/segments.py
index d87a7b2..b5edc4e 100644
--- a/dpath/segments.py
+++ b/dpath/segments.py
@@ -325,6 +325,8 @@ def set(
             # code agnostic to whether current is a list or a dict.
             # Unfortunately, for our use, 'x in thing' for lists checks
             # values, not keys whereas dicts check keys.
+            if isinstance(current, dict) and current.get(str(segment)):
+                segment = str(segment)
             current[segment]
         except (KeyError, IndexError):
             if creator is not None:
diff --git a/dpath/version.py b/dpath/version.py
index 127c148..66f584a 100644
--- a/dpath/version.py
+++ b/dpath/version.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-VERSION = "2.1.0"
+VERSION = "2.1.1"
\ No newline at end of file