diff --git a/src/FirebaseArray.js b/src/FirebaseArray.js
index e6744c32..e1f9ddb7 100644
--- a/src/FirebaseArray.js
+++ b/src/FirebaseArray.js
@@ -667,7 +667,9 @@
         var isResolved = false;
         var error   = $firebaseUtils.batch(function(err) {
           _initComplete(err);
-          firebaseArray.$$error(err);
+          if( firebaseArray ) {
+            firebaseArray.$$error(err);
+          }
         });
         var initComplete = $firebaseUtils.batch(_initComplete);
 
diff --git a/src/FirebaseObject.js b/src/FirebaseObject.js
index c5d21dcd..cad03f31 100644
--- a/src/FirebaseObject.js
+++ b/src/FirebaseObject.js
@@ -446,7 +446,12 @@
             firebaseObject.$$notify();
           }
         });
-        var error = $firebaseUtils.batch(firebaseObject.$$error, firebaseObject);
+        var error = $firebaseUtils.batch(function(err) {
+          _initComplete(err);
+          if( firebaseObject ) {
+            firebaseObject.$$error(err);
+          }
+        });
         var initComplete = $firebaseUtils.batch(_initComplete);
 
         var sync = {