diff --git a/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js b/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js
index a3ee39b4..21f7215f 100644
--- a/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js
+++ b/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js
@@ -209,6 +209,11 @@ getJasmineRequireObj().base = function(j$, jasmineGlobal) {
   };
 
   j$.createSpyObj = function(baseName, methodNames) {
+    if (j$.isArray_(baseName) && j$.util.isUndefined(methodNames)) {
+      methodNames = baseName;
+      baseName = 'unknown';
+    }
+
     if (!j$.isArray_(methodNames) || methodNames.length === 0) {
       throw 'createSpyObj requires a non-empty array of method names to create spies for';
     }
diff --git a/spec/core/SpySpec.js b/spec/core/SpySpec.js
index d69059b4..1262e328 100644
--- a/spec/core/SpySpec.js
+++ b/spec/core/SpySpec.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ describe('Spies', function () {
       TestClass.prototype.someFunction = function() {};
       TestClass.prototype.someFunction.bob = "test";
     });
-    
+
     it("preserves the properties of the spied function", function() {
       var spy = j$.createSpy(TestClass.prototype, TestClass.prototype.someFunction);
 
@@ -68,6 +68,14 @@ describe('Spies', function () {
       expect(spyObj.method2.and.identity()).toEqual('BaseName.method2');
     });
 
+    it("should allow you to omit the baseName", function() {
+      var spyObj = j$.createSpyObj(['method1', 'method2']);
+
+      expect(spyObj).toEqual({ method1: jasmine.any(Function), method2: jasmine.any(Function)});
+      expect(spyObj.method1.and.identity()).toEqual('unknown.method1');
+      expect(spyObj.method2.and.identity()).toEqual('unknown.method2');
+    });
+
     it("should throw if you do not pass an array argument", function() {
       expect(function() {
         j$.createSpyObj('BaseName');
diff --git a/src/core/base.js b/src/core/base.js
index f8291d3d..418a690f 100644
--- a/src/core/base.js
+++ b/src/core/base.js
@@ -105,6 +105,11 @@ getJasmineRequireObj().base = function(j$, jasmineGlobal) {
   };
 
   j$.createSpyObj = function(baseName, methodNames) {
+    if (j$.isArray_(baseName) && j$.util.isUndefined(methodNames)) {
+      methodNames = baseName;
+      baseName = 'unknown';
+    }
+
     if (!j$.isArray_(methodNames) || methodNames.length === 0) {
       throw 'createSpyObj requires a non-empty array of method names to create spies for';
     }