diff --git a/lib/mongo_mapper/plugins/associations/many_association.rb b/lib/mongo_mapper/plugins/associations/many_association.rb
index 756dfa09a..31847e247 100644
--- a/lib/mongo_mapper/plugins/associations/many_association.rb
+++ b/lib/mongo_mapper/plugins/associations/many_association.rb
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ def #{name}=(value)
           association = self
           options = self.options
 
-          model.after_destroy do
+          model.before_destroy do
             if !association.embeddable?
               case options[:dependent]
                 when :destroy
diff --git a/lib/mongo_mapper/plugins/associations/one_association.rb b/lib/mongo_mapper/plugins/associations/one_association.rb
index 9d3b37db1..00042e7d1 100644
--- a/lib/mongo_mapper/plugins/associations/one_association.rb
+++ b/lib/mongo_mapper/plugins/associations/one_association.rb
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ def setup(model)
           association = self
           options = self.options
 
-          model.after_destroy do
+          model.before_destroy do
             if !association.embeddable?
               proxy = self.get_proxy(association)