diff --git a/lib/rb/lib/thrift/protocol/json_protocol.rb b/lib/rb/lib/thrift/protocol/json_protocol.rb
index 91e74e46bf8..d03357e61b2 100644
--- a/lib/rb/lib/thrift/protocol/json_protocol.rb
+++ b/lib/rb/lib/thrift/protocol/json_protocol.rb
@@ -16,9 +16,7 @@
 # KIND, either express or implied. See the License for the
 # specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
-# 
-
-require 'base64'
+#
 
 module Thrift
   class LookaheadReader
@@ -311,7 +309,7 @@ def write_json_string(str)
     def write_json_base64(str)
       @context.write(trans)
       trans.write(@@kJSONStringDelimiter)
-      trans.write(Base64.strict_encode64(str))
+      trans.write([str].pack('m0'))
       trans.write(@@kJSONStringDelimiter)
     end
 
@@ -555,7 +553,7 @@ def read_json_base64
           str += '='
         end
       end
-      Base64.strict_decode64(str)
+      str.unpack1('m0')
     end
 
     # Reads a sequence of characters, stopping at the first one that is not
diff --git a/lib/rb/thrift.gemspec b/lib/rb/thrift.gemspec
index 17e1da2cb8e..d3c30a203c0 100644
--- a/lib/rb/thrift.gemspec
+++ b/lib/rb/thrift.gemspec
@@ -26,15 +26,16 @@ Gem::Specification.new do |s|
 
   s.require_paths = %w[lib ext]
 
+  s.add_dependency 'logger'
+
   s.add_development_dependency 'bundler',            '~> 2.1.4'
   s.add_development_dependency 'pry',                '~> 0.11.3'
   s.add_development_dependency 'pry-byebug',         '~> 3.6'
   s.add_development_dependency 'pry-stack_explorer', '~> 0.4.9.2'
   s.add_development_dependency 'rack',               '=  2.2.6.4'
   s.add_development_dependency 'rack-test',          '~> 0.8.3'
-  s.add_development_dependency 'rake',               '~> 12.3'
+  s.add_development_dependency 'rake',               '~> 13.3'
   s.add_development_dependency 'rspec',              '~> 3.7'
   s.add_development_dependency 'srv',                '~> 1.0'
   s.add_development_dependency 'thin',               '~> 1.7'
 end
-