diff --git a/composer.json b/composer.json
index 4d58920..54a28ec 100755
--- a/composer.json
+++ b/composer.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
     "name": "sjdaws/vocal",
     "description": "Extended functionality for Eloquent in Laravel 4.1+",
-    "version": "0.2.4",
+    "version": "0.2.5",
     "type": "library",
     "license": "MIT",
     "keywords": ["laravel", "eloquent", "orm", "activerecord", "recursive", "hydration", "validation", "angular", "angularjs"],
diff --git a/src/Sjdaws/Vocal/Vocal.php b/src/Sjdaws/Vocal/Vocal.php
index 8b15848..995ee6e 100755
--- a/src/Sjdaws/Vocal/Vocal.php
+++ b/src/Sjdaws/Vocal/Vocal.php
@@ -782,7 +782,12 @@ private function saveRelations($conditions, $rules, $messages, $relationships, $
                 // Save record on success, log errors on fail
                 if ($result)
                 {
-                    if (method_exists($this->$modelClass(), 'associate')) $this->$modelClass()->associate($record)->forceSave();
+                    if (method_exists($this->$modelClass(), 'associate')) {
+
+                        // we must save the record first before associating it
+                        $record->forceSave();
+                        $this->$modelClass()->associate($record)->forceSave();
+                    }
                     else
                     {
                         $result = $this->$modelClass()->saveRelation($record);
diff --git a/tests/Migrations/2014_04_02_090800_create_test_child_table.php b/tests/Migrations/2014_04_02_090800_create_test_child_table.php
index 1b1906d..3b2037b 100755
--- a/tests/Migrations/2014_04_02_090800_create_test_child_table.php
+++ b/tests/Migrations/2014_04_02_090800_create_test_child_table.php
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ public function up()
 		Schema::create($this->table, function($t)
 		{
 			$t->increments('id')->unsigned();
-			$t->integer('test_id')->unsigned();
+			$t->integer('test_id')->unsigned()->nullable();
 			$t->string('description', 100);
 			$t->timestamps();
         });
diff --git a/tests/VocalTest.php b/tests/VocalTest.php
index b26fd05..803f963 100755
--- a/tests/VocalTest.php
+++ b/tests/VocalTest.php
@@ -156,5 +156,22 @@ public function testVocal()
         $this->assertTrue($result, $this->errorResponse('Record was not saved', $test));
 
         $this->assertTrue($test->password && $test->password != $input->get('password'), $this->errorResponse('Record was not saved', $test));
+
+        // Test that the inverse relationship (belongsTo) works
+        $input->replace(array(
+            'description' => 'Child 3',
+            'parent' => array(
+                'description' => 'Parent 2',
+            )
+        ));
+
+        $child = new TestChild;
+        $result = $child->saveRecursive();
+
+        // Make sure validation passed
+        $this->assertTrue($result, $this->errorResponse('Record was not saved', $child));
+
+        // Make sure the parent has an ID (that means it was actually saved)
+        $this->assertTrue(!!$child->parent->id, true);
     }
 }