diff --git a/lib/cancan/controller_resource.rb b/lib/cancan/controller_resource.rb
index 20def9d..670b30c 100644
--- a/lib/cancan/controller_resource.rb
+++ b/lib/cancan/controller_resource.rb
@@ -107,6 +107,8 @@ module CanCan
         if @options[:find_by]
           if resource_base.respond_to? "find_by_#{@options[:find_by]}!"
             resource_base.send("find_by_#{@options[:find_by]}!", id_param)
+          elsif resource_base.respond_to? "find_by"
+            resource_base.send("find_by", { @options[:find_by].to_sym => id_param })
           else
             resource_base.send(@options[:find_by], id_param)
           end