diff --git a/lib/authenticator.js b/lib/authenticator.js
index 01605469..2aa08e97 100644
--- a/lib/authenticator.js
+++ b/lib/authenticator.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 /**
  * Module dependencies.
  */
+var Strategy = require('passport-strategy');
 var SessionStrategy = require('./strategies/session')
   , SessionManager = require('./sessionmanager');
 
@@ -456,11 +457,14 @@ Authenticator.prototype.transformAuthInfo = function(fn, req, done) {
 /**
  * Return strategy with given `name`. 
  *
- * @param {String} name
+ * @param {String|Strategy} name
  * @return {Strategy}
  * @api private
  */
 Authenticator.prototype._strategy = function(name) {
+  if (name instanceof Strategy) {
+    return name;
+  }
   return this._strategies[name];
 };