diff --git a/lib/models/model.js b/lib/models/model.js
index ae079e79..e0f3b0de 100644
--- a/lib/models/model.js
+++ b/lib/models/model.js
@@ -346,6 +346,8 @@ Model.remoteMethod = function(name, options) {
 }
 
 Model.belongsToRemoting = function(relationName, relation, define) {
+  var modelName = relation.modelTo && relation.modelTo.modelName;
+  modelName = modelName || 'PersistedModel';
   var fn = this.prototype[relationName];
   var pathName = (relation.options.http && relation.options.http.path) || relationName;
   define('__get__' + relationName, {
@@ -353,7 +355,7 @@ Model.belongsToRemoting = function(relationName, relation, define) {
     http: {verb: 'get', path: '/' + pathName},
     accepts: {arg: 'refresh', type: 'boolean', http: {source: 'query'}},
     description: 'Fetches belongsTo relation ' + relationName,
-    returns: {arg: relationName, type: relation.modelTo.modelName, root: true}
+    returns: {arg: relationName, type: modelName, root: true}
   }, fn);
 }