diff --git a/cake/libs/model/model.php b/cake/libs/model/model.php
index aa43bb843..e998117d0 100644
--- a/cake/libs/model/model.php
+++ b/cake/libs/model/model.php
@@ -2073,6 +2073,8 @@ class Model extends Overloadable {
 
 		if (isset($data[$this->alias])) {
 			$data = $data[$this->alias];
+		} elseif (!is_array($data)) {
+		    $data = array();
 		}
 
 		$Validation =& Validation::getInstance();