diff --git a/lib/compass/sprite_importer/content.erb b/lib/compass/sprite_importer/content.erb
index ccc6144e..bff7e745 100644
--- a/lib/compass/sprite_importer/content.erb
+++ b/lib/compass/sprite_importer/content.erb
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@ $<%= name %>-inline: false !default;
   } 
 } @else {
   #{$<%= name %>-sprite-base-class} {
-    background: $<%= name %>-sprites no-repeat;
+    background-image: $<%= name %>-sprites;
+    background-repeat: no-repeat;
   }
 }
 //sass functions to return the dimensions of a sprite image as units
@@ -78,4 +79,4 @@ $<%= name %>-inline: false !default;
 // Generates a class for each sprited image.
 @mixin all-<%= name %>-sprites($dimensions: $<%= name %>-sprite-dimensions, $prefix: sprite-map-name($<%= name %>-sprites), $offset-x: 0, $offset-y: 0) {
   @include <%= name %>-sprites(<%= sprite_names.join(" ") %>, $dimensions, $prefix, $offset-x, $offset-y);
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}