diff --git a/cake/libs/controller/controller.php b/cake/libs/controller/controller.php
index a7e5a972201..dafe6b6d8a5 100644
--- a/cake/libs/controller/controller.php
+++ b/cake/libs/controller/controller.php
@@ -742,8 +742,11 @@ function validateErrors() {
 
 		$errors = array();
 		foreach ($objects as $object) {
-			$this->{$object->alias}->set($object->data);
-			$errors = array_merge($errors, $this->{$object->alias}->invalidFields());
+			if (isset($this->{$object->alias})) {
+				$object =& $this->{$object->alias};
+			}
+			$object->set($object->data);
+			$errors = array_merge($errors, $object->invalidFields());
 		}
 
 		return $this->validationErrors = (!empty($errors) ? $errors : false);
@@ -1186,4 +1189,4 @@ function _scaffoldError($method) {
 		return false;
 	}
 }
-?>
\ No newline at end of file
+?>
diff --git a/cake/tests/cases/libs/controller/controller.test.php b/cake/tests/cases/libs/controller/controller.test.php
index e65a639fa30..6d3d5926360 100644
--- a/cake/tests/cases/libs/controller/controller.test.php
+++ b/cake/tests/cases/libs/controller/controller.test.php
@@ -1076,13 +1076,30 @@ function testValidateErrors() {
 
 		$TestController->ControllerComment->invalidate('some_field', 'error_message');
 		$TestController->ControllerComment->invalidate('some_field2', 'error_message2');
-		$comment = new ControllerComment;
+		$comment =& new ControllerComment();
 		$comment->set('someVar', 'data');
 		$result = $TestController->validateErrors($comment);
 		$expected = array('some_field' => 'error_message', 'some_field2' => 'error_message2');
 		$this->assertIdentical($result, $expected);
 		$this->assertEqual($TestController->validate($comment), 2);
 	}
+/**
+ * test that validateErrors works with any old model.
+ *
+ * @return void
+ */
+	function testValidateErrorsOnArbitraryModels() {
+		$TestController =& new TestController();
+
+		$Post = new ControllerPost();
+		$Post->validate = array('title' => 'notEmpty');
+		$Post->set('title', '');
+		$result = $TestController->validateErrors($Post);
+
+		$expected = array('title' => 'This field cannot be left blank');
+		$this->assertEqual($result, $expected);
+	}
+
 /**
  * testPostConditions method
  *
@@ -1168,4 +1185,4 @@ function testRequestHandlerPrefers(){
 		unset($Controller);
 	}
 }
-?>
\ No newline at end of file
+?>