diff --git a/backbone.js b/backbone.js
index 8953d47c..cb6412a2 100644
--- a/backbone.js
+++ b/backbone.js
@@ -185,16 +185,16 @@
     var defaults;
     var attrs = attributes || {};
     if (options && options.collection) this.collection = options.collection;
-    if (options && options.parse) attrs = this.parse(attrs);
-    if (defaults = _.result(this, 'defaults')) {
-      attrs = _.extend({}, defaults, attrs);
-    }
     this.attributes = {};
     this._escapedAttributes = {};
     this.cid = _.uniqueId('c');
     this.changed = {};
     this._changes = {};
     this._pending = {};
+    if (options && options.parse) attrs = this.parse(attrs);
+    if (defaults = _.result(this, 'defaults')) {
+      attrs = _.extend({}, defaults, attrs);
+    }
     this.set(attrs, {silent: true});
     // Reset change tracking.
     this.changed = {};
diff --git a/test/model.js b/test/model.js
index 28346984..c962de4b 100644
--- a/test/model.js
+++ b/test/model.js
@@ -889,4 +889,12 @@ $(document).ready(function() {
     deepEqual(changes, ['a',1,'item']);
   });
 
+  test("#1791 - `attributes` is available for `parse`", function() {
+    var Model = Backbone.Model.extend({
+      parse: function() { this.has('a'); } // shouldn't throw an error
+    });
+    var model = new Model(null, {parse: true});
+    expect(0);
+  });
+
 });