diff --git a/lib/activerecord-import/import.rb b/lib/activerecord-import/import.rb
index aa75d9aa..b7875f95 100644
--- a/lib/activerecord-import/import.rb
+++ b/lib/activerecord-import/import.rb
@@ -703,7 +703,8 @@ def import_helper( *args )
             # keep track of the instance and the position it is currently at. if this fails
             # validation we'll use the index to remove it from the array_of_attributes
             arr.each_with_index do |hsh, i|
-              model = new(hsh)
+              model = new
+              hsh.each_pair { |k, v| model[k] = v }
               next if validator.valid_model?(model)
               raise(ActiveRecord::RecordInvalid, model) if options[:raise_error]
               array_of_attributes[i] = nil