diff --git a/lib/paper_trail/config.rb b/lib/paper_trail/config.rb
index 7d1e869c4..05020d8ba 100644
--- a/lib/paper_trail/config.rb
+++ b/lib/paper_trail/config.rb
@@ -32,7 +32,9 @@ def serialized_attributes=(value)
     end
 
     def track_associations
-      @track_associations ||= PaperTrail::VersionAssociation.table_exists?
+      @track_associations.nil? ?
+        PaperTrail::VersionAssociation.table_exists? :
+        @track_associations
     end
     alias_method :track_associations?, :track_associations