diff --git a/packages/ember-metal/lib/chains.js b/packages/ember-metal/lib/chains.js
index 9e9e99a9633..a7816df2411 100644
--- a/packages/ember-metal/lib/chains.js
+++ b/packages/ember-metal/lib/chains.js
@@ -324,12 +324,26 @@ ChainNodePrototype.didChange = function(events) {
 
 export function finishChains(obj) {
   // We only create meta if we really have to
-  var m = obj['__ember_meta__'], chains = m && m.chains;
-  if (chains) {
-    if (chains.value() !== obj) {
+  var m = obj['__ember_meta__'],
+    chains, chainWatchers, chainNodes;
+  if (m) {
+    // finish any current chains node watchers that reference obj
+    chainWatchers = m.chainWatchers;
+    if (chainWatchers) {
+      for(var key in chainWatchers) {
+        if (!chainWatchers.hasOwnProperty(key)) { continue; }
+        chainNodes = chainWatchers[key];
+        if (chainNodes) {
+          for (var i=0,l=chainNodes.length;i<l;i++) {
+            chainNodes[i].didChange(null);
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    // copy chains from prototype
+    chains = m.chains;
+    if (chains && chains.value() !== obj) {
       metaFor(obj).chains = chains = chains.copy(obj);
-    } else {
-      chains.didChange(null);
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/ember-runtime/tests/system/object/observer_test.js b/packages/ember-runtime/tests/system/object/observer_test.js
index 18477cfa5d0..8c9ae693a77 100644
--- a/packages/ember-runtime/tests/system/object/observer_test.js
+++ b/packages/ember-runtime/tests/system/object/observer_test.js
@@ -199,3 +199,33 @@ testBoth('chain observer on class', function(get, set) {
   equal(get(obj1, 'count'), 1, 'should not invoke again');
   equal(get(obj2, 'count'), 1, 'should invoke observer on obj2');
 });
+
+testBoth('chain observer on class that has a reference to an uninitialized object will finish chains that reference it', function(get, set) {
+  var changed = false;
+
+  var ChildClass = EmberObject.extend({
+    parent: null,
+    parentOneTwoDidChange: observer('parent.one.two', function() {
+      changed = true;
+    })
+  });
+
+  var ParentClass = EmberObject.extend({
+    one: {
+      two: "old"
+    },
+    init: function () {
+      this.child = ChildClass.create({
+        parent: this
+      });
+    }
+  });
+
+  var parent = new ParentClass();
+
+  equal(changed, false, 'precond');
+
+  parent.set('one.two', 'new');
+
+  equal(changed, true, 'child should have been notified of change to path');
+});