The training phase of two experiments consisted of pairing flavors mixed together in solution. A sugar solution was paired with one arbitrary flavor (almond or banana), while a salt solution was paired with the alternative flavor, in order to provide rats with the opportunity to acquire flavor associations. In Experiment 1, a preference test at the end of the training phase indicated that the rats strongly preferred the unflavored sugar solution over the unflavored salt solution. Then the administration of a formalin injection produced a strong sodium need. Preference tests subsequent to the formalin injection showed that the rats preferred the salt solution over the sugar and also strongly preferred the salt-associated flavor over the sugar-associated flavor. Experiment 2 used a less palatable salt solution and a more highly palatable sugar solution. The rats strongly preferred the unflavored sugar solution over the salt solution at the end of the training period. Subsequent to the sodium-need-producing formalin injection, the rats still preferred the sugar over the salt, but strongly preferred the salt-associated flavor over the sugar-associated flavor. It was thus shown in Experiment 2 that a conditioned preference for a conditioned stimulus occurred without a similar preference for the unconditioned stimulus.