diff --git a/lib/asteroid.js b/lib/asteroid.js
index 8befe3fb..ecf67f9e 100644
--- a/lib/asteroid.js
+++ b/lib/asteroid.js
@@ -179,7 +179,18 @@ asteroid.createModel = function (name, properties, options) {
     } else if(data) {
       fn(null, new ModelCtor(data));
     } else if(id) {
-      ModelCtor.find(id, fn);
+      ModelCtor.find(id, function (err, model) {
+        if(err) {
+          fn(err);
+        } else if(model) {
+          fn(null, model);
+        } else {
+          err = new Error('could not find a model with id ' + id);
+          err.statusCode = 404;
+          
+          fn(err);
+        }
+      });
     } else {
       fn(new Error('must specify an id or data'));
     }