diff --git a/lib/Cake/Model/Model.php b/lib/Cake/Model/Model.php
index bfce2dd41c2..124bb394ab3 100644
--- a/lib/Cake/Model/Model.php
+++ b/lib/Cake/Model/Model.php
@@ -2895,6 +2895,10 @@ public function exists($id = null) {
 			return false;
 		}
 
+		if ($this->useTable === false) {
+			return true;
+		}
+
 		return (bool)$this->find('count', array(
 			'conditions' => array(
 				$this->alias . '.' . $this->primaryKey => $id