diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index b313f2ac..5c5ec3f3 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 1.26.2 -- 2015-mm-dd
 --------------------
 
+Bugfixes:
+ - Accept 'open' string in templated `auth` as authorized.
+
 
 1.26.1 -- 2015-01-28
 --------------------
diff --git a/lib/cartodb/template_maps.js b/lib/cartodb/template_maps.js
index 14fae2e3..f103e59a 100644
--- a/lib/cartodb/template_maps.js
+++ b/lib/cartodb/template_maps.js
@@ -398,6 +398,10 @@ o.isAuthorized = function(template, authTokens) {
         return false;
     }
 
+    if (_.isString(templateAuth) && templateAuth === 'open') {
+        return true;
+    }
+
     if (templateAuth.method === 'open') {
         return true;
     }
diff --git a/test/unit/cartodb/template_maps_auth.test.js b/test/unit/cartodb/template_maps_auth.test.js
index c01e841e..592e0257 100644
--- a/test/unit/cartodb/template_maps_auth.test.js
+++ b/test/unit/cartodb/template_maps_auth.test.js
@@ -92,4 +92,14 @@ suite('template_maps_auth', function() {
         })
     });
 
+    test("auth as 'open' string is authorized", function(done) {
+        var template = {
+            name: 'wadus_template',
+            auth: 'open'
+        };
+
+        assert.ok(templateMaps.isAuthorized(template));
+        done();
+    });
+
 });