diff --git a/build-test-data/src/main/groovy/grails/buildtestdata/DomainInstanceBuilder.groovy b/build-test-data/src/main/groovy/grails/buildtestdata/DomainInstanceBuilder.groovy
index da3e71d..87d682c 100755
--- a/build-test-data/src/main/groovy/grails/buildtestdata/DomainInstanceBuilder.groovy
+++ b/build-test-data/src/main/groovy/grails/buildtestdata/DomainInstanceBuilder.groovy
@@ -176,6 +176,9 @@ class DomainInstanceBuilder {
         }
 
         GrailsDomainClass defDomain = getDomainArtefact(domainInstance.class) as GrailsDomainClass
+        if (!defDomain.propertyMap) {
+            defDomain.initializePersistentProperties()
+        }
         def domainProp = defDomain.propertyMap[propertyName]
 
         if (domainProp?.isManyToOne()) {