diff --git a/mustache.js b/mustache.js
index d830e55..2188673 100644
--- a/mustache.js
+++ b/mustache.js
@@ -773,11 +773,18 @@ var Mustache = function() {
 			}
 		},
 		compile: function(template, partials) {
+			var p = {};
+			for (var key in partials) {
+				if (partials.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
+					p[key] = partials[key];
+				}
+			}
+			
 			var commands = [];
 			var s = function(command) { commands.push(command); };
 			
 			var renderer = new Renderer(s, 'compiler');
-			renderer.render(template, {}, partials);
+			renderer.render(template, {}, p);
 
 			return function(view, send_func) {
 				var o = send_func ? undefined : [];
diff --git a/test/unit.compiler.js b/test/unit.compiler.js
index c88e2f4..b098074 100644
--- a/test/unit.compiler.js
+++ b/test/unit.compiler.js
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ module('Compiler', {
 });
 
 test("Parser", function() {
-	expect(3);
+	expect(4);
 
 	// matches whitespace_partial.html
 	equals(
@@ -67,6 +67,10 @@ test("Parser", function() {
 		equals(e.message, 'Unexpected end of document.');
 	}
 	
+	var partials = { 'partial' : '{{key}}' };
+	Mustache.compile('{{>partial}}', partials );
+	
+	equals(partials['partial'], '{{key}}', 'Partials compiler must be non-destructive');
 });
 
 test("Basic Variables", function() {