diff --git a/lib/cancan/controller_resource.rb b/lib/cancan/controller_resource.rb
index 53cd9101..3b90c0f7 100644
--- a/lib/cancan/controller_resource.rb
+++ b/lib/cancan/controller_resource.rb
@@ -83,6 +83,10 @@ def load_collection
 
     def build_resource
       resource = resource_base.new(resource_params || {})
+      assign_attributes(resource)
+    end
+
+    def assign_attributes(resource)
       resource.send("#{parent_name}=", parent_resource) if @options[:singleton] && parent_resource
       initial_attributes.each do |attr_name, value|
         resource.send("#{attr_name}=", value)
diff --git a/lib/cancan/inherited_resource.rb b/lib/cancan/inherited_resource.rb
index 81bca5b8..61bd3331 100644
--- a/lib/cancan/inherited_resource.rb
+++ b/lib/cancan/inherited_resource.rb
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ def load_resource_instance
         @controller.send :association_chain
         @controller.instance_variable_get("@#{instance_name}")
       elsif new_actions.include? @params[:action].to_sym
-        @controller.send :build_resource
+        resource = @controller.send :build_resource
+        assign_attributes(resource)
       else
         @controller.send :resource
       end
diff --git a/spec/cancan/inherited_resource_spec.rb b/spec/cancan/inherited_resource_spec.rb
index dc4cc58b..3779fe6f 100644
--- a/spec/cancan/inherited_resource_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/cancan/inherited_resource_spec.rb
@@ -39,4 +39,22 @@
     CanCan::InheritedResource.new(@controller).load_resource
     @controller.instance_variable_get(:@projects).should == :projects
   end
+
+  it "should build a new resource with attributes from current ability" do
+    @params[:action] = "new"
+    @ability.can(:create, Project, :name => "from conditions")
+    stub(@controller).build_resource { Struct.new(:name).new }
+    resource = CanCan::InheritedResource.new(@controller)
+    resource.load_resource
+    @controller.instance_variable_get(:@project).name.should == "from conditions"
+  end
+
+  it "should override initial attributes with params" do
+    @params.merge!(:action => "new", :project => {:name => "from params"})
+    @ability.can(:create, Project, :name => "from conditions")
+    stub(@controller).build_resource { Struct.new(:name).new }
+    resource = CanCan::ControllerResource.new(@controller)
+    resource.load_resource
+    @controller.instance_variable_get(:@project).name.should == "from params"
+  end
 end