diff --git a/lib/Cake/Network/CakeEmail.php b/lib/Cake/Network/CakeEmail.php
index ae62d4a400d..c2f60c4cc4c 100644
--- a/lib/Cake/Network/CakeEmail.php
+++ b/lib/Cake/Network/CakeEmail.php
@@ -675,14 +675,14 @@ public function viewRender($viewClass = null) {
 /**
  * Variables to be set on render
  *
- * @param array
+ * @param array $viewVars
  * @return mixed
  */
 	public function viewVars($viewVars = null) {
 		if ($viewVars === null) {
 			return $this->_viewVars;
 		}
-		$this->_viewVars = $viewVars;
+		$this->_viewVars = array_merge($this->_viewVars, (array)$viewVars);
 		return $this;
 	}
 
diff --git a/lib/Cake/tests/Case/Network/CakeEmailTest.php b/lib/Cake/tests/Case/Network/CakeEmailTest.php
index d96503a0ef4..0186d9a69de 100644
--- a/lib/Cake/tests/Case/Network/CakeEmailTest.php
+++ b/lib/Cake/tests/Case/Network/CakeEmailTest.php
@@ -431,6 +431,24 @@ public function testTemplate() {
 		$this->assertIdentical($this->CakeEmail->template(), $expected);
 	}
 
+/**
+ * testViewVars method
+ *
+ * @return void
+ */
+	public function testViewVars() {
+		$this->assertIdentical($this->CakeEmail->viewVars(), array());
+
+		$this->CakeEmail->viewVars(array('value' => 12345));
+		$this->assertIdentical($this->CakeEmail->viewVars(), array('value' => 12345));
+
+		$this->CakeEmail->viewVars(array('name' => 'CakePHP'));
+		$this->assertIdentical($this->CakeEmail->viewVars(), array('value' => 12345, 'name' => 'CakePHP'));
+
+		$this->CakeEmail->viewVars(array('value' => 4567));
+		$this->assertIdentical($this->CakeEmail->viewVars(), array('value' => 4567, 'name' => 'CakePHP'));
+	}
+
 /**
  * testAttachments method
  *