diff --git a/packages/gems.sls b/packages/gems.sls
index f578833..506718d 100644
--- a/packages/gems.sls
+++ b/packages/gems.sls
@@ -27,9 +27,25 @@ gem_req_pkgs:
 ### GEMS to install
 # (requires the ruby/rubygem deb/rpm installed, either by the system or listed in
 # the required packages
+  # Standarize gems to format { gem: version }
+  {% set gem = namespace(name = '', version = '') %}
+
   {%- for gm in wanted_gems %}
-{{ gm }}:
+    {%- if gm is mapping %}
+      {%- for k,v in gm.items() %}
+        {%- set gem.name = k %}
+        {%- set gem.version = v %}
+        {%- endfor %}
+      {%- else %}
+        {%- set gem.name = gm %}
+        {%- set gem.version = 'version_undefined' %}
+      {%- endif %}
+{{ gem.name }}-{{ gem.version }}:
   gem.installed:
+    - name: {{ gem.name }}
+      {%- if gem.version != 'version_undefined' %}
+    - version: {{ gem.version }}
+      {%- endif %}
     - require:
       - pkg: gem_req_pkgs
       {%- if req_states %}
diff --git a/pillar.example b/pillar.example
index 3a00266..b5146c8 100644
--- a/pillar.example
+++ b/pillar.example
@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@ packages:
     wanted:
       - progressbar
       - minitest
+      # You can also specify a desired gem version
+      - some_gem: 1.2.3
+      - other: 2.3.4
     unwanted:
       - diff-lcs
       - kitchen-vagrant
diff --git a/test/integration/default/controls/gems_spec.rb b/test/integration/default/controls/gems_spec.rb
index 5424e85..821acc8 100644
--- a/test/integration/default/controls/gems_spec.rb
+++ b/test/integration/default/controls/gems_spec.rb
@@ -20,6 +20,22 @@
   end
 end
 
+### SPECIFIC GEMS VERSIONS
+control "Specific gems' versions" do
+  title 'should be installed'
+
+  specific_gems = {
+    'regexp_parser' => '1.7.0',
+    'strings' => '0.1.8'
+  }
+  specific_gems.each do |p, _v|
+    describe gem(p) do
+      it { should be_installed }
+      its('versions') { should include(/v/) }
+    end
+  end
+end
+
 ### UNWANTED
 control 'Unwanted gems' do
   title 'should be uninstalled'
diff --git a/test/salt/pillar/debian.sls b/test/salt/pillar/debian.sls
index aabd024..d5155f2 100644
--- a/test/salt/pillar/debian.sls
+++ b/test/salt/pillar/debian.sls
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ packages:
         # should also add the python pip package you want. Otherwise, the formula
         # will take care of getting it if needed.
         - libpython2.7-dev
-        - python-pip
     wanted:
       - dxpy
       - attrs
@@ -59,6 +58,8 @@ packages:
     wanted:
       - progressbar
       - minitest
+      - strings: 0.1.8
+      - regexp_parser: 1.7.0
     unwanted:
       - diff-lcs
       - kitchen-vagrant