diff --git a/lib/paper_trail/has_paper_trail.rb b/lib/paper_trail/has_paper_trail.rb
index d8d6acf7..fbc1c5cf 100644
--- a/lib/paper_trail/has_paper_trail.rb
+++ b/lib/paper_trail/has_paper_trail.rb
@@ -111,7 +111,8 @@ module PaperTrail
 
       def record_destroy
         if switched_on? and not new_record?
-          Version.create merge_metadata(:item      => self,
+          Version.create merge_metadata(:item_id   => self.id,
+                                        :item_type => self.class.name,
                                         :event     => 'destroy',
                                         :object    => object_to_string(item_before_change),
                                         :whodunnit => PaperTrail.whodunnit)