diff --git a/backbone.js b/backbone.js
index bca4595a..f5ab94d9 100644
--- a/backbone.js
+++ b/backbone.js
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@
       attrs = _.extend({}, this.attributes, attrs);
       var error = this.validate(attrs, options);
       if (!error) return true;
-      if (options.error) {
+      if (options && options.error) {
         options.error(this, error, options);
       } else {
         this.trigger('error', this, error, options);