diff --git a/django/forms/models.py b/django/forms/models.py
index d545a074887..75d526d1736 100644
--- a/django/forms/models.py
+++ b/django/forms/models.py
@@ -233,9 +233,9 @@ class BaseModelForm(BaseForm):
                  initial=None, error_class=ErrorList, label_suffix=':',
                  empty_permitted=False, instance=None):
         opts = self._meta
+        if opts.model is None:
+            raise ValueError('ModelForm has no model class specified.')
         if instance is None:
-            if opts.model is None:
-                raise ValueError('ModelForm has no model class specified.')
             # if we didn't get an instance, instantiate a new one
             self.instance = opts.model()
             object_data = {}
diff --git a/tests/modeltests/model_forms/tests.py b/tests/modeltests/model_forms/tests.py
index fb400375b81..efaf2981e13 100644
--- a/tests/modeltests/model_forms/tests.py
+++ b/tests/modeltests/model_forms/tests.py
@@ -133,6 +133,9 @@ class ShortCategory(forms.ModelForm):
     slug = forms.CharField(max_length=5)
     url = forms.CharField(max_length=3)
 
+    class Meta:
+        model = Category
+
 class ImprovedArticleForm(forms.ModelForm):
     class Meta:
         model = ImprovedArticle
@@ -277,6 +280,19 @@ class ModelFormBaseTest(TestCase):
             ['headline', 'slug', 'pub_date', 'writer', 'article', 'categories', 'status']
         )
 
+    def test_invalid_meta_model(self):
+        class InvalidModelForm(forms.ModelForm):
+            class Meta:
+                pass  # no model
+
+        # Can't create new form
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
+            f = InvalidModelForm()
+
+        # Even if you provide a model instance
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
+            f = InvalidModelForm(instance=Category)
+
     def test_subcategory_form(self):
         class SubCategoryForm(BaseCategoryForm):
             """ Subclassing without specifying a Meta on the class will use