diff --git a/core/lib/compass/core/sass_extensions/functions/gradient_support.rb b/core/lib/compass/core/sass_extensions/functions/gradient_support.rb
index 750df258f3..80c66e5c2c 100644
--- a/core/lib/compass/core/sass_extensions/functions/gradient_support.rb
+++ b/core/lib/compass/core/sass_extensions/functions/gradient_support.rb
@@ -162,7 +162,8 @@ def assert_legal_color!(color)
       unless Sass::Script::Value::Color === color ||
              Sass::Script::Tree::Funcall === color ||
              (Sass::Script::Value::String === color && color.value == "currentColor")||
-             (Sass::Script::Value::String === color && color.value == "transparent")
+             (Sass::Script::Value::String === color && color.value == "transparent") ||
+             (Sass::Script::Value::String === color && color.value.start_with?("var("))
         raise Sass::SyntaxError, "Expected a color. Got: #{color}"
       end
     end