diff --git a/quicktabs.module b/quicktabs.module
index 7f80e41..9cf129f 100644
--- a/quicktabs.module
+++ b/quicktabs.module
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ function quicktabs_build_quicktabs($name, $settings = array(), $custom_tabs = ar
   $renderer = isset($settings['renderer']) ? $settings['renderer'] : 'quicktabs';
   unset($settings['renderer']);
   foreach($custom_tabs as &$tab) {
-    $tab['type'] = 'prerendered';
+    if (!isset($tab['type'])) $tab['type'] = 'prerendered';
     if (!isset($tab['weight'])) $tab['weight'] = 0;
   }
   $contents = array_merge($custom_tabs, $contents);