diff --git a/model/SqlCriteria.php b/model/SqlCriteria.php
index 9328f7b..72c8b23 100644
--- a/model/SqlCriteria.php
+++ b/model/SqlCriteria.php
@@ -80,7 +80,11 @@ class SqlCriteria
 
     public function count()
     {
-        $this->sql_expression = 'SELECT COUNT(*) as count FROM :table';
+        if ($this->sql_expression && strpos($this->sql_expression, 'COUNT(*) as count')) {
+            ;
+        } else {
+            $this->sql_expression = 'SELECT COUNT(*) as count FROM :table';
+        }
         $this->defineJoinExpressions();
         return $this->model->find(array(), '', $this->where, null, null, null, null, $this->sql_expression, $this->sql_expression_params)->fetchField('count');
     }