diff --git a/syntax_checkers/sass.vim b/syntax_checkers/sass.vim
index f4758414..b67ed238 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/sass.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/sass.vim
@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@ if !executable("sass")
     finish
 endif
 
+"By default do not check partials as unknown variables are a syntax error
+if !exists("g:syntastic_sass_check_partials")
+    let g:syntastic_sass_check_partials = 0
+endif
+
 "use compass imports if available
 let s:imports = ""
 if executable("compass")
@@ -26,6 +31,9 @@ if executable("compass")
 endif
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_sass_GetLocList()
+    if !g:syntastic_sass_check_partials && expand('%:t')[0] == '_'
+        return []
+    end
     let makeprg='sass --no-cache '.s:imports.' --check '.shellescape(expand('%'))
     let errorformat = '%ESyntax %trror:%m,%C        on line %l of %f,%Z%.%#'
     let errorformat .= ',%Wwarning on line %l:,%Z%m,Syntax %trror on line %l: %m'