diff --git a/backbone.js b/backbone.js
index 09cb4b7e..5f8ea5c9 100644
--- a/backbone.js
+++ b/backbone.js
@@ -566,8 +566,8 @@
     _prepareModel: function(model, options) {
       if (!(model instanceof Backbone.Model)) {
         var attrs = model;
-        model = new this.model(null, {collection: this});
-        if (!model.set(attrs, options)) model = false;
+        model = new this.model(attrs, {collection: this});
+        if (model.validate && !model._performValidation(attrs, options)) model = false;
       } else if (!model.collection) {
         model.collection = this;
       }