diff --git a/lib/phony_rails.rb b/lib/phony_rails.rb
index e897438..1341ea1 100644
--- a/lib/phony_rails.rb
+++ b/lib/phony_rails.rb
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ def set_phony_normalized_numbers(attributes, options = {})
         options[:country_code] ||= self.country_code if self.respond_to?(:country_code)
         attributes.each do |attribute|
           attribute_name = options[:as] || attribute
+          raise RuntimeError, "No attribute #{attribute_name} found on #{self.class.name} (PhonyRails)" if not self.respond_to?(attribute_name)
           write_attribute(attribute_name, PhonyRails.normalize_number(read_attribute(attribute), options))
         end
       end
@@ -69,12 +70,9 @@ def phony_normalize(*attributes)
           raise ArgumentError, ':as option can not be used on phony_normalize with multiple attribute names! (PhonyRails)' if attributes.size > 1
           raise ArgumentError, "'#{options[:as]}' is not an attribute on #{self.name}. You might want to use 'phony_normalized_method :#{attributes.first}' (PhonyRails)" if not self.attribute_method?(options[:as])
         end
-        attributes.each do |attribute|
-          raise ArgumentError, "No attribute #{attribute} found on #{self.name} (PhonyRails)" if not self.attribute_method?(attribute)
-          # Add before validation that saves a normalized version of the phone number
-          self.before_validation do
-            set_phony_normalized_numbers(attributes, options)
-          end
+        # Add before validation that saves a normalized version of the phone number
+        self.before_validation do
+          set_phony_normalized_numbers(attributes, options)
         end
       end
 
diff --git a/spec/lib/phony_rails_spec.rb b/spec/lib/phony_rails_spec.rb
index da08e6b..bfb50e9 100644
--- a/spec/lib/phony_rails_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/phony_rails_spec.rb
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
         s.phony_formatted!(:normalize => :NL, :format => :international).should eql('+31 10 1234123')
         s.should eql("+31 10 1234123")
       end
-      
+
     end
 
     describe 'with normalize option' do
@@ -143,6 +143,12 @@
         Home.phony_normalize(:phone_number, :as => 'phone_number_as_normalized')
       }.should_not raise_error(ArgumentError)
     end
+
+    it "should accept a non existing attribute name" do
+      lambda {
+        Dummy.phony_normalize(:non_existing_attribute)
+      }.should_not raise_error
+    end
   end
 
   describe 'using ActiveRecord#phony_normalized_method' do
@@ -219,5 +225,14 @@
       home.valid?.should be_true
       home.phone_number_as_normalized.should eql('31101234123')
     end
+
+    it "should raise a RuntimeError at validation if the attribute doesn't exist" do
+      Dummy.phony_normalize :non_existing_attribute
+
+      dummy = Dummy.new
+      lambda {
+        dummy.valid?
+      }.should raise_error(RuntimeError)
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/spec_helper.rb b/spec/spec_helper.rb
index b633e3e..24ffc91 100644
--- a/spec/spec_helper.rb
+++ b/spec/spec_helper.rb
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ class Home < ActiveRecord::Base
   phony_normalize :phone_number # normalized on validation
 end
 
+class Dummy < Home
+end
+
 RSpec.configure do |config|
-  # some (optional) config here  
+  # some (optional) config here
 end
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