diff --git a/lib/cancan/controller_resource.rb b/lib/cancan/controller_resource.rb
index 83a77d1..f91a10e 100644
--- a/lib/cancan/controller_resource.rb
+++ b/lib/cancan/controller_resource.rb
@@ -83,6 +83,10 @@ module CanCan
 
     def build_resource
       resource = resource_base.new(resource_params || {})
+      assign_attributes(resource)
+    end
+
+    def assign_attributes(resource)
       resource.send("#{parent_name}=", parent_resource) if @options[:singleton] && parent_resource
       initial_attributes.each do |attr_name, value|
         resource.send("#{attr_name}=", value)