diff --git a/types/jasmine/index.d.ts b/types/jasmine/index.d.ts
index f3e0407bab..cd1d5de31e 100644
--- a/types/jasmine/index.d.ts
+++ b/types/jasmine/index.d.ts
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ declare function waits(timeout?: number): void;
 
 declare namespace jasmine {
     type Expected<T> = T | ObjectContaining<T> | Any | Spy;
+    type SpyObjMethodNames = string[] | {[methodName: string]: any};
 
     var clock: () => Clock;
 
@@ -144,12 +145,11 @@ declare namespace jasmine {
     function objectContaining<T>(sample: Partial<T>): ObjectContaining<T>;
     function createSpy(name?: string, originalFn?: Function): Spy;
 
-    function createSpyObj(baseName: string, methodNames: any[] | {[methodName: string]: any}): any;
-    function createSpyObj<T>(baseName: string, methodNames: any[] | {[methodName: string]: any}): SpyObj<T>;
+    function createSpyObj(baseName: string, methodNames: SpyObjMethodNames): any;
+    function createSpyObj<T>(baseName: string, methodNames: SpyObjMethodNames): SpyObj<T>;
 
-    function createSpyObj(baseName: string, methodNames: any): any;
-    function createSpyObj(methodNames: any[]): any;
-    function createSpyObj(methodNames: any): any;
+    function createSpyObj(methodNames: SpyObjMethodNames): any;
+    function createSpyObj<T>(methodNames: SpyObjMethodNames): SpyObj<T>;
 
     function pp(value: any): string;
 
diff --git a/types/jasmine/jasmine-tests.ts b/types/jasmine/jasmine-tests.ts
index b54269aa61..54e97ed73e 100644
--- a/types/jasmine/jasmine-tests.ts
+++ b/types/jasmine/jasmine-tests.ts
@@ -1109,7 +1109,17 @@ describe("createSpyObj", function () {
         expect(spyObj.method2.and.identity()).toEqual('BaseName.method2');
     });
 
-    it("should allow you to omit the baseName", function () {
+    it("should allow you to omit the baseName and takes only an object", function () {
+        var spyObj = jasmine.createSpyObj({ 'method1': 42, 'method2': 'special sauce' });
+
+        expect(spyObj.method1()).toEqual(42);
+        expect(spyObj.method1.and.identity()).toEqual('unknown.method1');
+
+        expect(spyObj.method2()).toEqual('special sauce');
+        expect(spyObj.method2.and.identity()).toEqual('unknown.method2');
+    });
+
+    it("should allow you to omit the baseName and takes only a list of methods", function () {
         var spyObj = jasmine.createSpyObj(['method1', 'method2']);
 
         expect(spyObj).toEqual({ method1: jasmine.any(Function), method2: jasmine.any(Function) });
@@ -1117,12 +1127,6 @@ describe("createSpyObj", function () {
         expect(spyObj.method2.and.identity()).toEqual('unknown.method2');
     });
 
-    it("should throw if you do not pass an array or object argument", function () {
-        expect(function () {
-            jasmine.createSpyObj('BaseName');
-        }).toThrow("createSpyObj requires a non-empty array or object of method names to create spies for");
-    });
-
     it("should throw if you pass an empty array argument", function () {
         expect(function () {
             jasmine.createSpyObj('BaseName', []);