diff --git a/can-view-model.js b/can-view-model.js
index c648436..b633450 100644
--- a/can-view-model.js
+++ b/can-view-model.js
@@ -6,13 +6,18 @@ var ns = require("can-namespace");
 var getDocument = require("can-util/dom/document/document");
 var isArrayLike = require('can-util/js/is-array-like/is-array-like');
 module.exports = ns.viewModel = function (el, attr, val) {
+	var scope ;
 	if (typeof el === 'string') {
 		el = getDocument().querySelector(el);
 	} else if (isArrayLike(el)) {
 		el= el[0];
 	}
 
-	var scope = domData.get.call(el, "viewModel");
+	if (types.isMapLike(attr)) {
+		return domData.set.call( el, "viewModel", attr);
+	}
+
+	scope = domData.get.call(el, "viewModel");
 	if(!scope) {
 		scope = types.DefaultMap ? new types.DefaultMap() : new SimpleMap();
 		domData.set.call(el, "viewModel", scope);
diff --git a/can-view-model_test.js b/can-view-model_test.js
index 3d2a3e2..2ee4465 100644
--- a/can-view-model_test.js
+++ b/can-view-model_test.js
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 var QUnit = require('steal-qunit');
 var viewModel = require('can-view-model');
 var SimpleMap = require('can-simple-map');
+var CanMap = require('can-map');
+var DefineMap = require("can-define/map/map");
 var types = require('can-types');
 
 QUnit.module('can-view-model');
@@ -27,6 +29,36 @@ QUnit.test('a selector can be passed as the first argument (#6)', function(){
 	types.DefaultMap = DefaultMap;
 });
 
+QUnit.test('set custom can-simple-map on element (#5)', function(){
+	var vm, elVm;
+	var CustomMap = SimpleMap.extend({});
+	var el = document.createElement('div');
+	document.getElementById('qunit-fixture').appendChild(el);
+	vm = new CustomMap({ foo: 'bar' });
+	elVm = viewModel(el, vm);
+	QUnit.equal(viewModel(el,'foo'), 'bar');
+});
+
+QUnit.test('set custom can-map on element (#5)', function(){
+	var vm, elVm;
+	var CustomMap = CanMap.extend({});
+	var el = document.createElement('div');
+	document.getElementById('qunit-fixture').appendChild(el);
+	vm = new CustomMap({ foo: 'bar' });
+	elVm = viewModel(el, vm);
+	QUnit.equal(viewModel(el,'foo'), 'bar');
+});
+
+QUnit.test('set custom can-define-map on element (#5)', function(){
+	var vm, elVm;
+	var CustomMap = DefineMap.extend({});
+	var el = document.createElement('div');
+	document.getElementById('qunit-fixture').appendChild(el);
+	vm = new CustomMap({ foo: 'bar' });
+	elVm = viewModel(el, vm);
+	QUnit.equal(viewModel(el,'foo'), 'bar');
+});
+
 QUnit.test('Allow passing array like (jQuery) element', function(){
 	var DefaultMap = types.DefaultMap;
 	var $el = {};