diff --git a/lib/compass/commands/write_configuration.rb b/lib/compass/commands/write_configuration.rb
index 758fbdfc..d1afd5f0 100644
--- a/lib/compass/commands/write_configuration.rb
+++ b/lib/compass/commands/write_configuration.rb
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ module Compass
         installer.write_configuration_files
       end
 
+      def installer_args
+        [nil, project_directory, options]
+      end
+
     end
   end
 end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/compass/installers/base.rb b/lib/compass/installers/base.rb
index d6483fcd..5a3081a4 100644
--- a/lib/compass/installers/base.rb
+++ b/lib/compass/installers/base.rb
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ module Compass
         @target_path = target_path
         @working_path = Dir.getwd
         @options = options
-        @manifest = Manifest.new(manifest_file)
+        @manifest = Manifest.new(manifest_file) if template_path
         self.logger = options[:logger]
       end