diff --git a/lib/compass/sass_extensions/functions/sprites.rb b/lib/compass/sass_extensions/functions/sprites.rb
index 1ab53e26..ab6bf017 100644
--- a/lib/compass/sass_extensions/functions/sprites.rb
+++ b/lib/compass/sass_extensions/functions/sprites.rb
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ module Compass::SassExtensions::Functions::Sprites
   #
   #     background: url('/images/icons.png?12345678') 0 -24px no-repeat;
   def sprite(map, sprite, offset_x = ZERO, offset_y = ZERO)
+    sprite = convert_sprite(sprite)
     verify_map(map)
     unless sprite.is_a?(Sass::Script::String)
       raise Sass::SyntaxError, %Q(The second argument to sprite() must be a sprite name. See http://beta.compass-style.org/help/tutorials/spriting/ for more information.)
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ module Compass::SassExtensions::Functions::Sprites
 
   # Returns the path to the original image file for the sprite with the given name
   def sprite_file(map, sprite)
+    sprite = convert_sprite(sprite)
     verify_map(map, "sprite")
     verify_sprite(sprite)
     if image = map.image_for(sprite.value)
@@ -68,6 +70,7 @@ module Compass::SassExtensions::Functions::Sprites
 
   # Returns voolean if sprite has a parent
   def sprite_does_not_have_parent(map, sprite)
+    sprite = convert_sprite(sprite)
     verify_map map
     verify_sprite sprite
     Sass::Script::Bool.new map.image_for(sprite.value).parent.nil?
@@ -77,6 +80,7 @@ module Compass::SassExtensions::Functions::Sprites
 
   # Returns boolean if sprite has the selector
   def sprite_has_selector(map, sprite, selector)
+    sprite = convert_sprite(sprite)
     verify_map map
     verify_sprite sprite
     unless VALID_SELECTORS.include?(selector.value)
@@ -118,6 +122,7 @@ module Compass::SassExtensions::Functions::Sprites
   #
   #     background-position: 3px -36px;
   def sprite_position(map, sprite = nil, offset_x = ZERO, offset_y = ZERO)
+    sprite = convert_sprite(sprite)
     verify_map(map, "sprite-position")
     unless sprite && sprite.is_a?(Sass::Script::String)
       raise Sass::SyntaxError, %Q(The second argument to sprite-position must be a sprite name. See http://beta.compass-style.org/help/tutorials/spriting/ for more information.)
@@ -147,6 +152,13 @@ module Compass::SassExtensions::Functions::Sprites
 
 protected
 
+  def convert_sprite(sprite)
+    if sprite.is_a?(Sass::Script::Color)
+      return Sass::Script::String.new(sprite.to_s)
+    end
+    sprite
+  end
+
   def verify_map(map, error = "sprite")
     unless map.is_a?(Compass::SassExtensions::Sprites::Base)
       missing_sprite!(error)
diff --git a/test/integrations/sprites_test.rb b/test/integrations/sprites_test.rb
index 549427d4..3f482e62 100644
--- a/test/integrations/sprites_test.rb
+++ b/test/integrations/sprites_test.rb
@@ -577,5 +577,15 @@ class SpritesTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
     SCSS
     assert_equal 2, map_files('selectors-*.png').size, "File was removed"
   end
+  
+  it "should generate a sprite if the sprite is a colorname" do
+    css = render <<-SCSS
+      @import "colors/*.png";
+      a {
+        @include colors-sprite(blue);
+      }
+    SCSS
+    assert !css.empty?
+  end
 
 end
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