diff --git a/backbone.js b/backbone.js
index b9201a88..15e65f3c 100644
--- a/backbone.js
+++ b/backbone.js
@@ -917,6 +917,7 @@
     _ensureElement : function() {
       if (!this.el) {
         var attrs = {};
+        if (this.attributes) attrs = this.attributes;
         if (this.id) attrs.id = this.id;
         if (this.className) attrs['class'] = this.className;
         this.el = this.make(this.tagName, attrs);