diff --git a/js/core/core.data.js b/js/core/core.data.js
index 05721a538..18b6320fa 100644
--- a/js/core/core.data.js
+++ b/js/core/core.data.js
@@ -150,7 +150,11 @@ function _fnGetCellData( settings, rowIdx, colIdx, type )
 	else if ( typeof cellData === 'function' ) {
 		// If the data source is a function, then we run it and use the return,
 		// executing in the scope of the data object (for instances)
-		return cellData.call( rowData );
+		if (col.renderReturnType === 'function') {
+			return cellData;
+		} else {
+			return cellData.call(rowData)
+		}
 	}
 
 	if ( cellData === null && type === 'display' ) {
@@ -311,7 +315,13 @@ function _fnInvalidate( settings, rowIdx, src, colIdx )
 			cell.removeChild( cell.firstChild );
 		}
 
-		cell.innerHTML = _fnGetCellData( settings, rowIdx, col, 'display' );
+		var cellData = _fnGetCellData( settings, rowIdx, col, 'display' );
+		if (typeof cellData === 'string') {
+			cell.innerHTML = cellData;
+		} else if (typeof cellData === 'function') {
+			var targetCol = settings.aoColumns[col]
+			cellData(cell, targetCol.mData ? row._aData[targetCol.mData] : col.sDefaultContent, row._aData, rowIdx)
+		}
 	};
 
 	// Are we reading last data from DOM or the data object?
diff --git a/js/core/core.draw.js b/js/core/core.draw.js
index 588d4b137..3489733a0 100644
--- a/js/core/core.draw.js
+++ b/js/core/core.draw.js
@@ -50,7 +50,14 @@ function _fnCreateTr ( oSettings, iRow, nTrIn, anTds )
 			if ( create || ((oCol.mRender || oCol.mData !== i) &&
 				 (!$.isPlainObject(oCol.mData) || oCol.mData._ !== i+'.display')
 			)) {
-				nTd.innerHTML = _fnGetCellData( oSettings, iRow, i, 'display' );
+				
+				var cellData = _fnGetCellData( oSettings, iRow, i, 'display' );
+					
+				if (typeof cellData === 'string') {
+					nTd.innerHTML = cellData;
+				} else if (typeof cellData === 'function') {
+					cellData(nTd, oCol.mData ? row._aData[oCol.mData] : oCol.sDefaultContent, row._aData, iRow)
+				}
 			}
 
 			/* Add user defined class */