diff --git a/lib/postal.js b/lib/postal.js
index 4cbcbbf..5091e43 100644
--- a/lib/postal.js
+++ b/lib/postal.js
@@ -67,7 +67,9 @@
 	};
 	
 	ChannelDefinition.prototype.publish = function () {
-		var envelope = arguments.length === 1 ? arguments[0] : { topic : arguments[0], data : arguments[1] };
+		var envelope = arguments.length === 1 ?
+		                (Object.prototype.toString.call(arguments[0]) === '[object String]' ?
+		                 arguments[0] : { topic: arguments[0] }) : { topic : arguments[0], data : arguments[1] };
 		envelope.channel = this.channel;
 		return postal.configuration.bus.publish( envelope );
 	};
diff --git a/src/ChannelDefinition.js b/src/ChannelDefinition.js
index e1e5768..6f49c16 100644
--- a/src/ChannelDefinition.js
+++ b/src/ChannelDefinition.js
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@ ChannelDefinition.prototype.subscribe = function () {
 };
 
 ChannelDefinition.prototype.publish = function () {
-	var envelope = arguments.length === 1 ? arguments[0] : { topic : arguments[0], data : arguments[1] };
+	var envelope = arguments.length === 1 ?
+	                (Object.prototype.toString.call(arguments[0]) === '[object String]' ?
+	                 arguments[0] : { topic: arguments[0] }) : { topic : arguments[0], data : arguments[1] };
 	envelope.channel = this.channel;
 	return postal.configuration.bus.publish( envelope );
 };
\ No newline at end of file