diff --git a/lib/devise/models/authenticatable.rb b/lib/devise/models/authenticatable.rb
index df964537e..1b26ad5cf 100644
--- a/lib/devise/models/authenticatable.rb
+++ b/lib/devise/models/authenticatable.rb
@@ -205,15 +205,15 @@ def strip_whitespace
 
       def apply_to_attribute_or_variable(attr, method)
         if self[attr]
-          self[attr] = self[attr].try(method)
+          self[attr] = self[attr].send(method) if self[attr].respond_to?(method)
 
         # Use respond_to? here to avoid a regression where globally
         # configured strip_whitespace_keys or case_insensitive_keys were
         # attempting to strip or downcase when a model didn't have the
         # globally configured key.
         elsif respond_to?(attr) && respond_to?("#{attr}=")
-          new_value = send(attr).try(method)
-          send("#{attr}=", new_value)
+          value = send(attr)
+          send("#{attr}=", value.send(method)) if value.respond_to?(method)
         end
       end
 
diff --git a/test/models/database_authenticatable_test.rb b/test/models/database_authenticatable_test.rb
index 909e01045..2c320be53 100644
--- a/test/models/database_authenticatable_test.rb
+++ b/test/models/database_authenticatable_test.rb
@@ -70,6 +70,24 @@ def setup
     end
   end
 
+  test "does not nilify case_insensitive_keys whose value does not respond to downcase" do
+    swap Devise, case_insensitive_keys: [:email, :sign_in_count] do
+      user = create_user
+      user.sign_in_count = 12
+      user.valid?
+      assert_equal 12, user.sign_in_count
+    end
+  end
+
+  test "does not nilify strip_whitespace_keys whose value does not respond to strip" do
+    swap Devise, strip_whitespace_keys: [:email, :sign_in_count] do
+      user = create_user
+      user.sign_in_count = 12
+      user.valid?
+      assert_equal 12, user.sign_in_count
+    end
+  end
+
   test "param filter should not convert booleans and integer to strings" do
     conditions = { "login" => "foo@bar.com", "bool1" => true, "bool2" => false, "fixnum" => 123, "will_be_converted" => (1..10) }
     conditions = Devise::ParameterFilter.new([], []).filter(conditions)