diff --git a/autoload/airline/parts.vim b/autoload/airline/parts.vim
index 1f59300c..9af5b612 100644
--- a/autoload/airline/parts.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline/parts.vim
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ endfunction
 
 function! airline#parts#spell()
   let spelllang = g:airline_detect_spelllang ? printf(" [%s]", toupper(substitute(&spelllang, ',', '/', 'g'))) : ''
-  if g:airline_detect_spell && &spell
+  if g:airline_detect_spell && (&spell || (exists('g:airline_spell_check_command') && eval(g:airline_spell_check_command)))
     let winwidth = airline#util#winwidth()
     if winwidth >= 90
       return g:airline_symbols.spell . spelllang