diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/associations/association_proxy.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/associations/association_proxy.rb
index c415ad2df38c7..68503a3c40acc 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/associations/association_proxy.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/associations/association_proxy.rb
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ def target=(target)
       end
 
       def inspect
-        reload unless loaded?
+        load_target
         @target.inspect
       end
 
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ def merge_options_from_reflection!(options)
         def with_scope(*args, &block)
           @reflection.klass.send :with_scope, *args, &block
         end
-          
+
       private
         def method_missing(method, *args)
           if load_target
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/associations_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/associations_test.rb
index ed2fab6d22693..d8fe98bf572af 100755
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/associations_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/associations_test.rb
@@ -149,6 +149,12 @@ def test_save_on_parent_does_not_load_target
     assert !david.projects.loaded?
   end
 
+  def test_inspect_does_not_reload_a_not_yet_loaded_target
+    andreas = Developer.new :name => 'Andreas', :log => 'new developer added'
+    assert !andreas.audit_logs.loaded?
+    assert_match(/message: "new developer added"/, andreas.audit_logs.inspect)
+  end
+
   def test_save_on_parent_saves_children
     developer = Developer.create :name => "Bryan", :salary => 50_000
     assert_equal 1, developer.reload.audit_logs.size
diff --git a/activerecord/test/models/developer.rb b/activerecord/test/models/developer.rb
index 192c2cb5ab8a8..f77fd0e96dadf 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/models/developer.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/models/developer.rb
@@ -49,6 +49,10 @@ def find_least_recent
   before_create do |developer|
     developer.audit_logs.build :message => "Computer created"
   end
+
+  def log=(message)
+    audit_logs.build :message => message
+  end
 end
 
 class AuditLog < ActiveRecord::Base