diff --git a/lib/cocoon/view_helpers.rb b/lib/cocoon/view_helpers.rb
index 2321894..59e080b 100644
--- a/lib/cocoon/view_helpers.rb
+++ b/lib/cocoon/view_helpers.rb
@@ -92,13 +92,26 @@ module Cocoon
     def create_object(f, association)
       assoc = f.object.class.reflect_on_association(association)
 
-      raise "Association #{association} doesn't exist on #{f.object.class}" unless assoc
-      if assoc.class.name == "Mongoid::Relations::Metadata"
-        conditions = assoc.respond_to?(:conditions) ? assoc.conditions.flatten : []
-        assoc.klass.new(*conditions)
+      assoc ? create_object_on_association(f, association, assoc) : create_object_on_non_association(f, association)
+    end
+
+    def get_partial_path(partial, association)
+      partial ? partial : association.to_s.singularize + "_fields"
+    end
+
+    private
+
+    def create_object_on_non_association(f, association)
+      raise "Association #{association} doesn't exist on #{f.object.class}"
+    end
+
+    def create_object_on_association(f, association, instance)
+      if instance.class.name == "Mongoid::Relations::Metadata"
+        conditions = instance.respond_to?(:conditions) ? instance.conditions.flatten : []
+        instance.klass.new(*conditions)
       else
         # assume ActiveRecord or compatible
-        if assoc.collection?
+        if  instance.collection?
           f.object.send(association).build
         else
           f.object.send("build_#{association}")
@@ -106,9 +119,5 @@ module Cocoon
       end
     end
 
-    def get_partial_path(partial, association)
-      partial ? partial : association.to_s.singularize + "_fields"
-    end
-
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/cocoon_spec.rb b/spec/cocoon_spec.rb
index cc1a61a..57522aa 100644
--- a/spec/cocoon_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/cocoon_spec.rb
@@ -195,6 +195,13 @@ describe Cocoon do
       it "should raise error if cannot reflect on association" do
         expect { @tester.create_object(stub(:object => Comment.new), :not_existing) }.to raise_error /exist/
       end
+
+      it "should create an association if object responds to 'build_association' as singular" do
+        pending 'WIP'
+        object = Comment.new
+        object.should_receive(:build_custom_item).and_return 'custom'
+        @tester.create_object(stub(:object => Comment.new), :custom_item).should == 'custom'
+      end
     end
 
     context "get_partial_path" do