diff --git a/lib/couchrest/core/document.rb b/lib/couchrest/core/document.rb
index 4ec50d4..42c02e2 100644
--- a/lib/couchrest/core/document.rb
+++ b/lib/couchrest/core/document.rb
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ module CouchRest
     end
 
     # returns true if the document has never been saved
-    def new_record?
+    def new_document?
       !rev
     end
 
diff --git a/spec/couchrest/core/model_spec.rb b/spec/couchrest/core/model_spec.rb
index de67099..112eada 100644
--- a/spec/couchrest/core/model_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/couchrest/core/model_spec.rb
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ end
 
 class Question < CouchRest::Model
   key_accessor :q, :a
+  couchrest_type = 'Question'
 end
 
 class Person < CouchRest::Model