diff --git a/lib/build_associated.rb b/lib/build_associated.rb
index 5e4de65..fb4e33d 100644
--- a/lib/build_associated.rb
+++ b/lib/build_associated.rb
@@ -5,13 +5,21 @@ module BuildAssociated
 
   module ClassMethods
     def build_associated association_name
-      alias_method "_#{association_name}", association_name
-      remove_method association_name
+      begin 
+        alias_method "_#{association_name}", association_name
+        remove_method(association_name)
 
-      define_method association_name do
-        obj = self.send("_#{association_name}") 
-        obj ||= self.send("build_#{association_name}") unless self.frozen? or self.readonly?
-        return obj
+        define_method association_name do
+          obj = self.send("_#{association_name}") || super
+          obj ||= self.send("build_#{association_name}") unless self.frozen? or self.readonly?
+          return obj
+        end
+      rescue NameError
+        define_method association_name do
+          obj = super
+          obj ||= self.send("build_#{association_name}") unless self.frozen? or self.readonly?
+          return obj
+        end
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/lib/build_associated/version.rb b/lib/build_associated/version.rb
index 676af89..6ad6bec 100644
--- a/lib/build_associated/version.rb
+++ b/lib/build_associated/version.rb
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 module BuildAssociated
-  VERSION = "1.0.1"
+  VERSION = "1.1.2"
 end