diff --git a/lib/arel/engines/sql/relations/table.rb b/lib/arel/engines/sql/relations/table.rb
index f56fd7d8..82668970 100644
--- a/lib/arel/engines/sql/relations/table.rb
+++ b/lib/arel/engines/sql/relations/table.rb
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ def tables= e; @@tables = e; end
     end
 
     attr_reader :name, :engine, :table_alias, :options, :christener
+    attr_reader :table_exists
+    alias :table_exists? :table_exists
 
     def initialize(name, options = {})
       @name = name.to_s
@@ -45,6 +47,8 @@ def initialize(name, options = {})
         end
 
         @@tables ||= engine.connection.tables
+        @table_exists = @@tables.include?(name) ||
+          @engine.connection.table_exists?(name)
       end
     end
 
@@ -52,10 +56,6 @@ def as(table_alias)
       Table.new(name, options.merge(:as => table_alias))
     end
 
-    def table_exists?
-      @table_exists ||= @@tables.include?(name) || engine.connection.table_exists?(name)
-    end
-
     def attributes
       return @attributes if defined?(@attributes)
       if table_exists?