diff --git a/claims.go b/claims.go
index f0228f02..ae3bf951 100644
--- a/claims.go
+++ b/claims.go
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ func (c StandardClaims) Valid() error {
 // Compares the aud claim against cmp.
 // If required is false, this method will return true if the value matches or is unset
 func (c *StandardClaims) VerifyAudience(cmp string, req bool) bool {
-	return verifyAud(c.Audience, cmp, req)
+	return verifyAud([]string{c.Audience}, cmp, req)
 }
 
 // Compares the exp claim against cmp.
@@ -90,15 +90,16 @@ func (c *StandardClaims) VerifyNotBefore(cmp int64, req bool) bool {
 
 // ----- helpers
 
-func verifyAud(aud string, cmp string, required bool) bool {
-	if aud == "" {
+func verifyAud(auds []string, cmp string, required bool) bool {
+	if auds == nil || len(auds) == 0 {
 		return !required
 	}
-	if subtle.ConstantTimeCompare([]byte(aud), []byte(cmp)) != 0 {
-		return true
-	} else {
-		return false
+	for _, aud := range auds {
+		if len(aud) == len(cmp) && subtle.ConstantTimeCompare([]byte(aud), []byte(cmp)) != 0 {
+			return true
+		}
 	}
+	return false
 }
 
 func verifyExp(exp int64, now int64, required bool) bool {
diff --git a/map_claims.go b/map_claims.go
index 291213c4..4395f757 100644
--- a/map_claims.go
+++ b/map_claims.go
@@ -13,7 +13,13 @@ type MapClaims map[string]interface{}
 // Compares the aud claim against cmp.
 // If required is false, this method will return true if the value matches or is unset
 func (m MapClaims) VerifyAudience(cmp string, req bool) bool {
-	aud, _ := m["aud"].(string)
+	var aud []string
+	switch exp := m["aud"].(type) {
+		case string:
+			aud = []string{exp}
+	    case []string:
+	    	aud = exp
+	}
 	return verifyAud(aud, cmp, req)
 }
 
diff --git a/map_claims_test.go b/map_claims_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1ce4b757
--- /dev/null
+++ b/map_claims_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+package jwt_test
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"github.com/dgrijalva/jwt-go"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func TestMapClaims_Valid(t *testing.T) {
+	now := time.Now()
+	oneMinuteFromNow := json.Number(fmt.Sprint(now.Add(time.Minute).Unix()))
+	oneMinuteAgo := json.Number(fmt.Sprint(now.Add(-time.Minute).Unix()))
+	twoMinutesAgo := json.Number(fmt.Sprint(now.Add(-2 * time.Minute).Unix()))
+	thirtySecondFromNow := json.Number(fmt.Sprint(now.Add(30*time.Second).Unix()))
+	nowStr := json.Number(fmt.Sprint(now.Unix()))
+	validClaims := jwt.MapClaims{
+		"exp": oneMinuteFromNow,
+		"iat": nowStr,
+		"nbf": nowStr,
+	}
+	assert.NoError(t, validClaims.Valid())
+	expiredClaims := jwt.MapClaims{
+		"exp": oneMinuteAgo,
+		"iat": twoMinutesAgo,
+		"nbf": twoMinutesAgo,
+	}
+	assert.Error(t, expiredClaims.Valid())
+	notYetValidClaims := jwt.MapClaims{
+		"exp": oneMinuteFromNow,
+		"iat": nowStr,
+		"nbf": thirtySecondFromNow,
+	}
+	assert.Error(t, notYetValidClaims.Valid())
+	notYetIssuedClaims := jwt.MapClaims{
+		"exp": oneMinuteFromNow,
+		"iat": thirtySecondFromNow,
+		"nbf": thirtySecondFromNow,
+	}
+	assert.Error(t, notYetIssuedClaims.Valid())
+}
+
+func TestMapClaims_Valid_Float(t *testing.T) {
+	now := time.Now()
+	oneMinuteFromNow := float64(now.Add(time.Minute).Unix())
+	oneMinuteAgo := float64(now.Add(-time.Minute).Unix())
+	twoMinutesAgo := float64(now.Add(-2 * time.Minute).Unix())
+	thirtySecondFromNow := float64(now.Add(30*time.Second).Unix())
+	nowStr := float64(now.Unix())
+	validClaims := jwt.MapClaims{
+		"exp": oneMinuteFromNow,
+		"iat": nowStr,
+		"nbf": nowStr,
+	}
+	assert.NoError(t, validClaims.Valid())
+	expiredClaims := jwt.MapClaims{
+		"exp": oneMinuteAgo,
+		"iat": twoMinutesAgo,
+		"nbf": twoMinutesAgo,
+	}
+	assert.Error(t, expiredClaims.Valid())
+	notYetValidClaims := jwt.MapClaims{
+		"exp": oneMinuteFromNow,
+		"iat": nowStr,
+		"nbf": thirtySecondFromNow,
+	}
+	assert.Error(t, notYetValidClaims.Valid())
+	notYetIssuedClaims := jwt.MapClaims{
+		"exp": oneMinuteFromNow,
+		"iat": thirtySecondFromNow,
+		"nbf": thirtySecondFromNow,
+	}
+	assert.Error(t, notYetIssuedClaims.Valid())
+}
+
+func TestMapClaims_VerifyAudience(t *testing.T) {
+	joe := "joe"
+	jill := "jill"
+	jack := "jack"
+
+	claims := jwt.MapClaims{}
+	assert.True(t, claims.VerifyAudience(joe, false))
+	assert.False(t, claims.VerifyAudience(joe, true))
+
+	claims = jwt.MapClaims{"aud":[]string{}}
+	assert.True(t, claims.VerifyAudience(joe, false))
+	assert.False(t, claims.VerifyAudience(joe, true))
+
+	claims = jwt.MapClaims{
+		"aud": joe,
+	}
+	assert.True(t, claims.VerifyAudience(joe, false))
+	assert.False(t, claims.VerifyAudience(jill, false))
+	assert.True(t, claims.VerifyAudience(joe, true))
+	assert.False(t, claims.VerifyAudience(jill, true))
+
+	claims = jwt.MapClaims{
+		"aud": []string {joe, jill},
+	}
+	assert.True(t, claims.VerifyAudience(joe, false))
+	assert.True(t, claims.VerifyAudience(joe, true))
+	assert.False(t, claims.VerifyAudience(jack, false))
+	assert.False(t, claims.VerifyAudience(jack, true))
+}
+
+func TestMapClaims_VerifyIssuer(t *testing.T) {
+	claims := jwt.MapClaims{}
+	assert.True(t, claims.VerifyIssuer("service1", false))
+	assert.False(t, claims.VerifyIssuer("service1", true))
+
+	claims = jwt.MapClaims{"iss": "service1"}
+	assert.True(t, claims.VerifyIssuer("service1", false))
+	assert.True(t, claims.VerifyIssuer("service1", true))
+
+	claims = jwt.MapClaims{"iss": "service2"}
+	assert.False(t, claims.VerifyIssuer("service1", false))
+	assert.False(t, claims.VerifyIssuer("service1", true))
+}
\ No newline at end of file