diff --git a/lib/couchrest/more/casted_model.rb b/lib/couchrest/more/casted_model.rb
index 6f442c8..16a9b11 100644
--- a/lib/couchrest/more/casted_model.rb
+++ b/lib/couchrest/more/casted_model.rb
@@ -10,11 +10,11 @@ module CouchRest
     
     def initialize(keys={})
       raise StandardError unless self.is_a? Hash
-      apply_defaults # defined in CouchRest::Mixins::Properties
       super()
       keys.each do |k,v|
         self[k.to_s] = v
       end if keys
+      apply_defaults # defined in CouchRest::Mixins::Properties
       cast_keys      # defined in CouchRest::Mixins::Properties
     end