diff --git a/examples/blueprint_default/config.rb b/examples/blueprint_default/config.rb
index dade73f815..bbb651edcd 100644
--- a/examples/blueprint_default/config.rb
+++ b/examples/blueprint_default/config.rb
@@ -4,5 +4,4 @@
 sass_dir = "src"
 images_dir = "images"
 output_style = :compact
-# To enable relative image paths using the images_url() function:
-http_images_path = :relative
+relative_assets = true
diff --git a/examples/blueprint_plugins/config.rb b/examples/blueprint_plugins/config.rb
index fe37a4895d..16f4235dd1 100644
--- a/examples/blueprint_plugins/config.rb
+++ b/examples/blueprint_plugins/config.rb
@@ -4,6 +4,5 @@
 sass_dir = "src"
 images_dir = "images"
 output_style = :compact
-# To enable relative image paths using the images_url() function:
-# http_images_path = :relative
-http_images_path = :relative
+relative_assets = true
+
diff --git a/examples/blueprint_semantic/config.rb b/examples/blueprint_semantic/config.rb
index dade73f815..bbb651edcd 100644
--- a/examples/blueprint_semantic/config.rb
+++ b/examples/blueprint_semantic/config.rb
@@ -4,5 +4,4 @@
 sass_dir = "src"
 images_dir = "images"
 output_style = :compact
-# To enable relative image paths using the images_url() function:
-http_images_path = :relative
+relative_assets = true
diff --git a/examples/compass/config.rb b/examples/compass/config.rb
index dade73f815..bbb651edcd 100644
--- a/examples/compass/config.rb
+++ b/examples/compass/config.rb
@@ -4,5 +4,4 @@
 sass_dir = "src"
 images_dir = "images"
 output_style = :compact
-# To enable relative image paths using the images_url() function:
-http_images_path = :relative
+relative_assets = true
diff --git a/lib/compass/configuration.rb b/lib/compass/configuration.rb
index 59da900abf..920893aa08 100644
--- a/lib/compass/configuration.rb
+++ b/lib/compass/configuration.rb
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ class Configuration
       :javascripts_dir,
       :output_style,
       :environment,
+      :relative_assets,
       :http_images_path,
       :additional_import_paths,
       :sass_options
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ def parse_string(contents, filename)
         self.additional_import_paths ||= []
         self.additional_import_paths += @added_import_paths
       end
+      issue_deprecation_warnings
     end
 
     def set_all(options)
@@ -99,6 +101,21 @@ def comment_for_http_images_path
       "# To enable relative image paths using the images_url() function:\n# http_images_path = :relative\n"
     end
 
+    def relative_assets?
+      # the http_images_path is deprecated, but here for backwards compatibility.
+      relative_assets || http_images_path == :relative
+    end
+
+    def comment_for_relative_assets
+      unless relative_assets
+        %q{# To enable relative paths to assets via compass helper functions. Uncomment:
+# relative_assets = true
+}
+      else
+        ""
+      end
+    end
+
     def default_output_style
       if environment == :development
         :expanded
@@ -249,6 +266,12 @@ def reset!
       self.required_libraries = []
     end
 
+    def issue_deprecation_warnings
+      if http_images_path == :relative
+        puts "DEPRECATION WARNING: Please set relative_assets = true to enable relative paths."
+      end
+    end
+
     def require(lib)
       required_libraries << lib
       super
diff --git a/lib/compass/exec.rb b/lib/compass/exec.rb
index c52b7daf7f..9877e6291a 100644
--- a/lib/compass/exec.rb
+++ b/lib/compass/exec.rb
@@ -184,6 +184,10 @@ def set_opts(opts)
           self.options[:output_style] = style
         end
 
+        opts.on('--relative-assets', :NONE, 'Make compass asset helpers generate relative urls to assets.') do
+          self.options[:relative_assets] = true
+        end
+
         opts.separator ''
         opts.separator 'General Options:'
 
diff --git a/test/configuration_test.rb b/test/configuration_test.rb
index 5a6f0737a1..5ce3a350f6 100644
--- a/test/configuration_test.rb
+++ b/test/configuration_test.rb
@@ -18,9 +18,8 @@ def test_parse_and_serialize
       images_dir = "img"
       javascripts_dir = "js"
       output_style = :nested
-      # To enable relative image paths using the images_url() function:
-      # http_images_path = :relative
-      http_images_path = "/images"
+      # To enable relative paths to assets via compass helper functions. Uncomment:
+      # relative_assets = true
     CONFIG
 
     Compass.configuration.parse_string(contents, "test_parse")
@@ -82,8 +81,8 @@ def test_additional_import_paths
 # Require any additional compass plugins here.
 project_path = "/home/chris/my_compass_project"
 css_dir = "css"
-# To enable relative image paths using the images_url() function:
-# http_images_path = :relative
+# To enable relative paths to assets via compass helper functions. Uncomment:
+# relative_assets = true
 additional_import_paths = ["../foo", "/path/to/my/framework"]
 EXPECTED
     assert_equal expected_serialization, Compass.configuration.serialize
@@ -101,10 +100,12 @@ def test_sass_options
 
       expected_serialization = <<EXPECTED
 # Require any additional compass plugins here.
-# To enable relative image paths using the images_url() function:
-# http_images_path = :relative
+# Set this to the root of your project when deployed:
+# To enable relative paths to assets via compass helper functions. Uncomment:
+# relative_assets = true
 sass_options = {:foo=>"bar"}
 EXPECTED
+
       assert_equal expected_serialization, Compass.configuration.serialize
     end