diff --git a/mongomap/base.py b/mongomap/base.py
index ddae4615..d1b766c4 100644
--- a/mongomap/base.py
+++ b/mongomap/base.py
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ class BaseDocument(object):
                 setattr(self, attr_name, values.pop(attr_name))
             else:
                 if attr_value.required:
-                    raise ValidationError('Field "%s" is required' % self.name)
+                    raise ValidationError('Field "%s" is required' % attr_name)
                 # Use default value
                 setattr(self, attr_name, getattr(self, attr_name, None))
 
diff --git a/tests/fields.py b/tests/fields.py
index 58342453..6cc7a1dc 100644
--- a/tests/fields.py
+++ b/tests/fields.py
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ class FieldTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertRaises(ValidationError, person.__setattr__, 'preferences', 
                           Comment(content='Nice blog post...'))
         person.preferences = PersonPreferences(food='Cheese', number=47)
+        self.assertEqual(person.preferences.food, 'Cheese')
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':