diff --git a/lib/noosfero/api/helpers.rb b/lib/noosfero/api/helpers.rb
index e5c985a..952a84d 100644
--- a/lib/noosfero/api/helpers.rb
+++ b/lib/noosfero/api/helpers.rb
@@ -46,7 +46,9 @@ require_relative '../../find_by_contents'
               options.merge!(fields.symbolize_keys.slice(:only, :except))
             end
           rescue
-            options[:only] = Array.wrap(params[:fields])
+            fields = params[:fields]
+            fields = fields.split(',') if fields.kind_of?(String)
+            options[:only] = Array.wrap(fields)
           end
         end
         present model, options
diff --git a/test/unit/api/helpers_test.rb b/test/unit/api/helpers_test.rb
index daa9398..5c0e4d0 100644
--- a/test/unit/api/helpers_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/api/helpers_test.rb
@@ -209,11 +209,18 @@ class APIHelpersTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
 
   should 'fallback to array when fields parameter is not a json when calling present partial' do
     model = mock
-    params[:fields] = 'name'
+    params[:fields] = ['name']
     expects(:present).with(model, {:only => ['name']})
     present_partial(model, {})
   end
 
+  should 'fallback to comma separated string when fields parameter is not an array when calling present partial' do
+    model = mock
+    params[:fields] = 'name,description'
+    expects(:present).with(model, {:only => ['name', 'description']})
+    present_partial(model, {})
+  end
+
   should 'accept json as fields parameter when calling present partial' do
     model = mock
     params[:fields] = {only: [:name, {user: [:login]}]}.to_json
--
libgit2 0.21.2