diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 30b09b9918..49aef1ef24 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 # ggplot2 3.1.0.9000
   
+* `scale_color_continuous()` now points at `scale_colour_continuos()` so that it 
+  will handle `type = "viridis"` as the documentation states (@hlendway, #3079).
+
 * `scale_shape_identity()` now works correctly with `guide = "legend"` (@malcolmbarrett, #3029)
 
 * Facet strips on the left side of plots now have clipping turned on, preventing
diff --git a/R/zxx.r b/R/zxx.r
index 9624526b90..32ab91f1bc 100644
--- a/R/zxx.r
+++ b/R/zxx.r
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ scale_color_distiller <- scale_colour_distiller
 #' @export
 #' @rdname scale_gradient
 #' @usage NULL
-scale_color_continuous <- scale_colour_gradient
+scale_color_continuous <- scale_colour_continuous
 
 #' @export
 #' @rdname scale_hue