diff --git a/lib/couchrest/model/persistence.rb b/lib/couchrest/model/persistence.rb
index 885f726..c63b8f4 100644
--- a/lib/couchrest/model/persistence.rb
+++ b/lib/couchrest/model/persistence.rb
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ module CouchRest
       #
       # Returns self.
       def reload
-        merge!(self.class.get(id))
+        prepare_all_attributes(database.get(id), :directly_set_attributes => true)
         self
       end
 
diff --git a/spec/couchrest/dirty_spec.rb b/spec/couchrest/dirty_spec.rb
index 12c4f18..8cbd7be 100644
--- a/spec/couchrest/dirty_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/couchrest/dirty_spec.rb
@@ -241,6 +241,14 @@ describe "Dirty" do
       end
     end
 
+    it "should report changes if an array is popped after reload" do
+      should_change_array do |array, obj|
+        obj.reload
+        obj.keywords.pop
+      end
+    end
+
+
     it "should report no changes if an empty array is popped" do
       should_not_change_array do |array, obj|
         array.clear