diff --git a/lib/toto.rb b/lib/toto.rb
index 6d98c2b..6b5cc71 100644
--- a/lib/toto.rb
+++ b/lib/toto.rb
@@ -165,10 +165,14 @@ def title
       end
 
       def render page, type
-        content = to_html page, @config
+        content = to_partial page
         type == :html ? to_html(:layout, @config, &Proc.new { content }) : send(:"to_#{type}", page)
       end
 
+      def to_partial page
+        to_html page, @config
+      end
+
       def to_xml page
         xml = Builder::XmlMarkup.new(:indent => 2)
         instance_eval File.read("#{Paths[:templates]}/#{page}.builder")
diff --git a/test/templates/composite.rhtml b/test/templates/composite.rhtml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6a9d891
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/templates/composite.rhtml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+<h1>Composite Page</h1>
+<%= render 'sidebar', :partial %>
diff --git a/test/templates/sidebar.rhtml b/test/templates/sidebar.rhtml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..74660ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/templates/sidebar.rhtml
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+<div id="sidebar">Sidebar</div>
diff --git a/test/toto_test.rb b/test/toto_test.rb
index aa090b6..e919511 100644
--- a/test/toto_test.rb
+++ b/test/toto_test.rb
@@ -280,6 +280,12 @@ def readme() "#{self[:name]}'s README" end
   context "extensions to the core Ruby library" do
     should("respond to iso8601") { Date.today }.respond_to?(:iso8601)
   end
+
+  context "rendering a partial" do
+    setup { @toto.get('/composite') }
+    should("include a sidebar")   { topic.body }.includes_elements("#sidebar", 1)
+  end
+
 end