diff --git a/mongoengine/base/document.py b/mongoengine/base/document.py
index f5eae8ff..c625f8b8 100644
--- a/mongoengine/base/document.py
+++ b/mongoengine/base/document.py
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ class BaseDocument(object):
             pk = "None"
             if hasattr(self, 'pk'):
                 pk = self.pk
-            elif self._instance:
+            elif self._instance and hasattr(self._instance, 'pk'):
                 pk = self._instance.pk
             message = "ValidationError (%s:%s) " % (self._class_name, pk)
             raise ValidationError(message, errors=errors)