diff --git a/actionmailer/lib/action_mailer/base.rb b/actionmailer/lib/action_mailer/base.rb
index a43296461b..88d34a58d5 100644
--- a/actionmailer/lib/action_mailer/base.rb
+++ b/actionmailer/lib/action_mailer/base.rb
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ module ActionMailer #:nodoc:
 
       def template_root=(root)
         root = ActionView::PathSet::Path.new(root) if root.is_a?(String)
-        write_inheritable_attribute(:template_root, root)
+        write_inheritable_attribute(:template_root, root.load)
       end
     end
 
diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_view/paths.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_view/paths.rb
index a37706faee..d97f963540 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_view/paths.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_view/paths.rb
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ module ActionView #:nodoc:
       end
 
       def [](path)
+        raise "Unloaded view path! #{@path}" unless @loaded
         @paths[path]
       end
 
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@ module ActionView #:nodoc:
 
       def load
         reload! unless loaded?
+        self
       end
 
       # Rebuild load path directory cache