diff --git a/lib/sequel/dataset/sql.rb b/lib/sequel/dataset/sql.rb
index d0d42bc..ffc198d 100644
--- a/lib/sequel/dataset/sql.rb
+++ b/lib/sequel/dataset/sql.rb
@@ -1233,9 +1233,10 @@ module Sequel
     end

     # SQL fragmento for a type of object not handled by Dataset#literal.
-    # Raises an error.  If a database specific type is allowed,
-    # this should be overriden in a subclass.
+    # Calls sql_literal if object responds to it, otherwise raises an error.
+    # If a database specific type is allowed, this should be overriden in a subclass.
     def literal_other(v)
+      return v.sql_literal if v.respond_to?(:sql_literal)
       raise Error, "can't express #{v.inspect} as a SQL literal"
     end

diff --git a/spec/core/dataset_spec.rb b/spec/core/dataset_spec.rb
index b7e57f4..178b96b 100644
--- a/spec/core/dataset_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/core/dataset_spec.rb
@@ -779,7 +779,16 @@ context "Dataset#literal" do
     @dataset.literal(:items__name).should == "items.name"
   end

-  specify "should raise an error for unsupported types" do
+  specify "should call sql_literal on type if not natively supports and the method exists" do
+    @a = Class.new do
+      def sql_literal
+        "called"
+      end
+    end
+    @dataset.literal(@a.new).should == "called"
+  end
+
+  specify "should raise an error for unsupported types with no sql_literal method" do
     proc {@dataset.literal({})}.should raise_error
   end