diff --git a/lib/pdk/report/event.rb b/lib/pdk/report/event.rb
index 6585e5939..c2930af00 100644
--- a/lib/pdk/report/event.rb
+++ b/lib/pdk/report/event.rb
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class Event
       # @raise [ArgumentError] (see #sanitise_data)
       def initialize(data)
         sanitise_data(data).each do |key, value|
-          instance_variable_set("@#{key}", value)
+          instance_variable_set(:"@#{key}", value)
         end
       end
 
diff --git a/spec/unit/pdk/report/event_spec.rb b/spec/unit/pdk/report/event_spec.rb
index 160e32999..ec877b789 100644
--- a/spec/unit/pdk/report/event_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/pdk/report/event_spec.rb
@@ -140,9 +140,9 @@
 
           methods.each do |method|
             if method == state_method
-              it { is_expected.to send("be_#{method}") }
+              it { is_expected.to send(:"be_#{method}") }
             else
-              it { is_expected.not_to send("be_#{method}") }
+              it { is_expected.not_to send(:"be_#{method}") }
             end
           end
         end