diff --git a/Smarty.class.php b/Smarty.class.php
index 20a8f8d4..cf673a14 100644
--- a/Smarty.class.php
+++ b/Smarty.class.php
@@ -568,7 +568,7 @@ class Smarty
 		foreach ($attrs as $attr_name => $attr_value) {
 			switch ($attr_name) {
 				case 'loop':
-					$output .= "{$section_props}['loop'] = count($attr_value);\n";
+					$output .= "{$section_props}['loop'] = is_array($attr_value) ? count($attr_value) : $attr_value;\n";
 					break;
 
 				case 'show':
diff --git a/demo/templates/index.tpl b/demo/templates/index.tpl
index 17c86bcb..ab5cf4fb 100644
--- a/demo/templates/index.tpl
+++ b/demo/templates/index.tpl
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ the value of $SCRIPT_NAME is {$SCRIPT_NAME}
 hello, my name is {$Name|upper}
 
 My interests are:
-{section name=outer loop=$FirstName}
+{section name=outer loop=2}
 	{if %outer.index% is odd by 2}
 		{%outer.rownum%} . {$outer/FirstName} {$outer/LastName}
 	{else}
diff --git a/libs/Smarty.class.php b/libs/Smarty.class.php
index 20a8f8d4..cf673a14 100644
--- a/libs/Smarty.class.php
+++ b/libs/Smarty.class.php
@@ -568,7 +568,7 @@ class Smarty
 		foreach ($attrs as $attr_name => $attr_value) {
 			switch ($attr_name) {
 				case 'loop':
-					$output .= "{$section_props}['loop'] = count($attr_value);\n";
+					$output .= "{$section_props}['loop'] = is_array($attr_value) ? count($attr_value) : $attr_value;\n";
 					break;
 
 				case 'show':
diff --git a/templates/index.tpl b/templates/index.tpl
index 17c86bcb..ab5cf4fb 100644
--- a/templates/index.tpl
+++ b/templates/index.tpl
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ the value of $SCRIPT_NAME is {$SCRIPT_NAME}
 hello, my name is {$Name|upper}
 
 My interests are:
-{section name=outer loop=$FirstName}
+{section name=outer loop=2}
 	{if %outer.index% is odd by 2}
 		{%outer.rownum%} . {$outer/FirstName} {$outer/LastName}
 	{else}