diff --git a/frameworks/compass/stylesheets/compass/typography/_vertical_rhythm.scss b/frameworks/compass/stylesheets/compass/typography/_vertical_rhythm.scss
index accdfe218b..999d1fb33c 100644
--- a/frameworks/compass/stylesheets/compass/typography/_vertical_rhythm.scss
+++ b/frameworks/compass/stylesheets/compass/typography/_vertical_rhythm.scss
@@ -111,12 +111,13 @@ $base-half-leader: $base-leader / 2;
 // Calculate rhythm units.
 @function rhythm(
   $lines: 1,
-  $font-size: $base-font-size
+  $font-size: $base-font-size,
+  $offset: 0
 ) {
   @if not $relative-font-sizing and $font-size != $base-font-size {
     @warn "$relative-font-sizing is false but a relative font size was passed to the rhythm function";
   }
-  $rhythm: $font-unit * $lines * $base-line-height / $font-size;
+  $rhythm: $font-unit * ($lines * $base-line-height - $offset) / $font-size;
   // Round the pixels down to nearest integer.
   @if unit($rhythm) == px {
     $rhythm: floor($rhythm);
@@ -183,7 +184,7 @@ $base-half-leader: $base-leader / 2;
     style: $border-style;
     width: $font-unit * $width / $font-size;
   };
-  padding-#{$side}: $font-unit / $font-size * ($lines * $base-line-height - $width);
+  padding-#{$side}: rhythm($lines, $font-size, $offset: $width);
 }
 
 // Apply borders and whitespace equally to all sides.
@@ -195,7 +196,7 @@ $base-half-leader: $base-leader / 2;
     style: $border-style;
     width: $font-unit * $width / $font-size;
   };
-  padding: $font-unit / $font-size * ($lines * $base-line-height - $width);
+  padding: rhythm($lines, $font-size, $offset: $width);
 }
 
 // Apply a leading border.