diff --git a/lib/paperclip.rb b/lib/paperclip.rb
index 7d2458161..e2831a6b7 100644
--- a/lib/paperclip.rb
+++ b/lib/paperclip.rb
@@ -195,23 +195,6 @@ def has_attached_file(name, options = {})
       end
     end
 
-    # Places ActiveRecord-style validations on the presence of a file.
-    # Options:
-    # * +if+: A lambda or name of an instance method. Validation will only
-    #   be run if this lambda or method returns true.
-    # * +unless+: Same as +if+ but validates if lambda or method returns false.
-    def validates_attachment_presence name, options = {}
-      message = options[:message] || :empty
-      validates_each :"#{name}_file_name" do |record, attr, value|
-        if_clause_passed = options[:if].nil? || (options[:if].respond_to?(:call) ? options[:if].call(record) != false : record.send(options[:if]))
-        unless_clause_passed = options[:unless].nil? || (options[:unless].respond_to?(:call) ? !!options[:unless].call(record) == false : !record.send(options[:unless]))
-        if if_clause_passed && unless_clause_passed && value.blank?
-          record.errors.add(name, message)
-          record.errors.add("#{name}_file_name", message)
-        end
-      end
-    end
-
     # Places ActiveRecord-style validations on the content type of the file
     # assigned. The possible options are:
     # * +content_type+: Allowed content types.  Can be a single content type
diff --git a/lib/paperclip/validators.rb b/lib/paperclip/validators.rb
index bcc42449a..367a928c8 100644
--- a/lib/paperclip/validators.rb
+++ b/lib/paperclip/validators.rb
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 require 'active_support/concern'
+require 'paperclip/validators/attachment_presence_validator'
 require 'paperclip/validators/attachment_size_validator'
 
 module Paperclip
diff --git a/lib/paperclip/validators/attachment_presence_validator.rb b/lib/paperclip/validators/attachment_presence_validator.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..61ec7b9e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/paperclip/validators/attachment_presence_validator.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+require 'active_model/validations/presence'
+
+module Paperclip
+  module Validators
+    class AttachmentPresenceValidator < ActiveModel::Validations::PresenceValidator
+      def validate(record)
+        [attributes].flatten.map do |attribute|
+          if record.send(:read_attribute_for_validation, "#{attribute}_file_name").blank?
+            record.errors.add(attribute, :blank, options)
+          end
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
+    module HelperMethods
+      # Places ActiveRecord-style validations on the presence of a file.
+      # Options:
+      # * +if+: A lambda or name of an instance method. Validation will only
+      #   be run if this lambda or method returns true.
+      # * +unless+: Same as +if+ but validates if lambda or method returns false.
+      def validates_attachment_presence(*attr_names)
+        validates_with AttachmentPresenceValidator, _merge_attributes(attr_names)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/validators/attachment_presence_validator_test.rb b/test/validators/attachment_presence_validator_test.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9ae930459
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/validators/attachment_presence_validator_test.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+require './test/helper'
+
+class AttachmentPresenceValidatorTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
+  def setup
+    rebuild_model
+    @dummy = Dummy.new
+  end
+
+  def build_validator(options={})
+    @validator = Paperclip::Validators::AttachmentPresenceValidator.new(options.merge(
+      :attributes => :avatar
+    ))
+  end
+
+  context "nil attachment" do
+    setup do
+      @dummy.avatar = nil
+    end
+
+    context "with default options" do
+      setup do
+        build_validator
+        @validator.validate(@dummy)
+      end
+
+      should "add error on the attachment" do
+        assert @dummy.errors[:avatar].present?
+      end
+
+      should "not add an error on the file_name attribute" do
+        assert @dummy.errors[:avatar_file_name].blank?
+      end
+    end
+
+    context "with :if option" do
+      context "returning true" do
+        setup do
+          build_validator :if => true
+          @validator.validate(@dummy)
+        end
+
+        should "perform a validation" do
+          assert @dummy.errors[:avatar].present?
+        end
+      end
+
+      context "returning false" do
+        setup do
+          build_validator :if => false
+          @validator.validate(@dummy)
+        end
+
+        should "perform a validation" do
+          assert @dummy.errors[:avatar].present?
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  context "with attachment" do
+    setup do
+      build_validator
+      @dummy.avatar = StringIO.new('.')
+      @validator.validate(@dummy)
+    end
+
+    should "not add error on the attachment" do
+      assert @dummy.errors[:avatar].blank?
+    end
+
+    should "not add an error on the file_name attribute" do
+      assert @dummy.errors[:avatar_file_name].blank?
+    end
+  end
+
+  context "using the helper" do
+    setup do
+      Dummy.validates_attachment_presence :avatar
+    end
+
+    should "add the validator to the class" do
+      assert Dummy.validators_on(:avatar).any?{ |validator| validator.kind == :attachment_presence }
+    end
+  end
+end