diff --git a/lib/ransack/adapters/active_record/context.rb b/lib/ransack/adapters/active_record/context.rb
index 3a4f6af..58da369 100644
--- a/lib/ransack/adapters/active_record/context.rb
+++ b/lib/ransack/adapters/active_record/context.rb
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ module Ransack
 
             found_association = list.detect do |assoc|
               assoc.reflection.name == name &&
-              @associations_pot[assoc] == parent &&
+              (@associations_pot.nil? || @associations_pot[assoc] == parent) &&
               (!klass || assoc.reflection.klass == klass)
             end