diff --git a/cake/libs/object.php b/cake/libs/object.php
index ad43d6539..15ef1feb6 100644
--- a/cake/libs/object.php
+++ b/cake/libs/object.php
@@ -75,18 +75,27 @@ class Object{
 		return $class;
 	}
 /**
- * Return a value from an array list.
+ * Return a value from an array list if the key exists.
+ *
+ * If a coma separated $list is passed arrays are numeric with the key of the first being 0
+ * $list = 'no, yes' would translate to  $list = array(0 => 'no', 1 => 'yes');
+ *
+ * If an array is used, keys can be strings example: array('no' => 0, 'yes' => 1);
+ *
+ * $list defaults to 0 = no 1 = yes if param is not passed
  *
  * @param string $selected
- * @param array $list
- * @return string the value of the array key
+ * @param mixed $list can be an array or a coma separated list.
+ * @return string the value of the array key or null if no match
  */
 	function enum($select, $list = array('no', 'yes')) {
 		$return = null;
-		if(is_array($list)){
-			if (array_key_exists($select, $list)) {
-				$return = $list[$select];
-			}
+		if(is_string($list)) {
+			$list = explode(',', $list);
+		}
+
+		if (array_key_exists($select, $list)) {
+			$return = $list[$select];
 		}
 		return $return;
 	}