diff --git a/fedireads/models/base_model.py b/fedireads/models/base_model.py
index cd1cae07..506e063f 100644
--- a/fedireads/models/base_model.py
+++ b/fedireads/models/base_model.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ class FedireadsModel(models.Model):
     @property
     def absolute_id(self):
         ''' constructs the absolute reference to any db object '''
-        if self.remote_id:
+        if hasattr(self, 'remote_id') and self.remote_id:
             return self.remote_id
 
         base_path = 'https://%s' % DOMAIN
diff --git a/fedireads/tests/test_base_model.py b/fedireads/tests/test_base_model.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..79f34a20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fedireads/tests/test_base_model.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+''' testing models '''
+from django.test import TestCase
+
+from fedireads.models.base_model import FedireadsModel
+from fedireads.settings import DOMAIN
+
+
+class BaseModel(TestCase):
+    def test_absolute_id(self):
+        instance = FedireadsModel()
+        instance.id = 1
+        expected = instance.absolute_id
+        self.assertEqual(expected, 'https://%s/fedireadsmodel/1' % DOMAIN)