diff --git a/lib/couchrest/model/attributes.rb b/lib/couchrest/model/attributes.rb
index 40ddbc9..391cdb5 100644
--- a/lib/couchrest/model/attributes.rb
+++ b/lib/couchrest/model/attributes.rb
@@ -29,13 +29,6 @@ module CouchRest
       end
       alias :attributes= :update_attributes_without_saving
 
-      # Takes a hash as argument, and applies the values by using writer methods
-      # for each key. Raises a NoMethodError if the corresponding methods are
-      # missing. In case of error, no attributes are changed.
-      def update_attributes(hash)
-        update_attributes_without_saving hash
-        save
-      end
 
       private
 
diff --git a/lib/couchrest/model/persistence.rb b/lib/couchrest/model/persistence.rb
index dea3e45..a48955a 100644
--- a/lib/couchrest/model/persistence.rb
+++ b/lib/couchrest/model/persistence.rb
@@ -62,6 +62,20 @@ module CouchRest
         end
       end
 
+      # Update the document's attributes and save. For example:
+      #
+      #   doc.update_attributes :name => "Fred"
+      # 
+      # Is the equivilent of doing the following:
+      #
+      #   doc.attributes = { :name => "Fred" }
+      #   doc.save
+      #
+      def update_attributes(hash)
+        update_attributes_without_saving hash
+        save
+      end
+
     protected
 
       def perform_validations(options = {})
diff --git a/spec/couchrest/casted_model_spec.rb b/spec/couchrest/casted_model_spec.rb
index 32ef3e0..b9f26e1 100644
--- a/spec/couchrest/casted_model_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/couchrest/casted_model_spec.rb
@@ -179,6 +179,11 @@ describe CouchRest::Model::CastedModel do
       @question.q.should == "What is your quest?"
       @question.a.should == "To seek the Holy Grail"
     end
+
+    it "should raise an error if save or update_attributes called" do
+      expect { @question.save }.to raise_error
+      expect { @question.update_attributes(:q => "Fubar?") }.to raise_error
+    end
   end
   
   describe "saved document with casted models" do