diff --git a/lib/factory_girl/declaration/implicit.rb b/lib/factory_girl/declaration/implicit.rb
index 3e7fc43..482aef9 100644
--- a/lib/factory_girl/declaration/implicit.rb
+++ b/lib/factory_girl/declaration/implicit.rb
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ module FactoryGirl
         elsif FactoryGirl.sequences.registered?(name)
           [Attribute::Sequence.new(name, name, @ignored)]
         else
-          @factory.trait_by_name(name).attributes.to_a
+          @factory.inherit_traits([name])
+          []
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/lib/factory_girl/definition.rb b/lib/factory_girl/definition.rb
index 8f486b3..e4936fe 100644
--- a/lib/factory_girl/definition.rb
+++ b/lib/factory_girl/definition.rb
@@ -7,10 +7,19 @@ module FactoryGirl
       @callbacks      = []
       @defined_traits = []
       @to_create      = nil
+      @traits         = []
     end
 
     delegate :declare_attribute, :to => :attribute_list
 
+    def traits
+      @traits.reverse.map { |name| trait_by_name(name) }
+    end
+
+    def inherit_traits(new_traits)
+      @traits += new_traits
+    end
+
     def add_callback(callback)
       @callbacks << callback
     end
@@ -27,12 +36,12 @@ module FactoryGirl
       @defined_traits << trait
     end
 
+    private
+
     def trait_by_name(name)
       trait_for(name) || FactoryGirl.trait_by_name(name)
     end
 
-    private
-
     def trait_for(name)
       defined_traits.detect {|trait| trait.name == name }
     end
diff --git a/lib/factory_girl/factory.rb b/lib/factory_girl/factory.rb
index 0c19a67..a63ef61 100644
--- a/lib/factory_girl/factory.rb
+++ b/lib/factory_girl/factory.rb
@@ -10,14 +10,15 @@ module FactoryGirl
       @name             = name.to_s.underscore.to_sym
       @parent           = options[:parent]
       @aliases          = options[:aliases] || []
-      @traits           = options[:traits]  || []
       @class_name       = options[:class]
       @default_strategy = options[:default_strategy]
       @definition       = Definition.new(@name)
+
+      inherit_traits(options[:traits] || [])
     end
 
     delegate :add_callback, :declare_attribute, :to_create, :define_trait,
-             :defined_traits, :trait_by_name, :to => :@definition
+             :defined_traits, :traits, :inherit_traits, :to => :@definition
 
     def factory_name
       $stderr.puts "DEPRECATION WARNING: factory.factory_name is deprecated; use factory.name instead."
@@ -128,10 +129,6 @@ module FactoryGirl
       end
     end
 
-    def traits
-      @traits.reverse.map { |name| trait_by_name(name) }
-    end
-
     def parent
       if @parent
         FactoryGirl.factory_by_name(@parent)
diff --git a/spec/acceptance/traits_spec.rb b/spec/acceptance/traits_spec.rb
index 43461ec..b9284b8 100644
--- a/spec/acceptance/traits_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/acceptance/traits_spec.rb
@@ -197,6 +197,6 @@ describe "traits with callbacks" do
 
   context "when the factory has an implicit trait" do
     subject    { FactoryGirl.create(:caps_user_implicit_trait) }
-    its(:name) { pending }
+    its(:name) { should == "JOHN" }
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/factory_girl/definition_spec.rb b/spec/factory_girl/definition_spec.rb
index 63f25fb..ad5db4e 100644
--- a/spec/factory_girl/definition_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/factory_girl/definition_spec.rb
@@ -47,21 +47,24 @@ describe FactoryGirl::Definition, "#to_create" do
   end
 end
 
-describe FactoryGirl::Definition, "#trait_by_name" do
+describe FactoryGirl::Definition, "#traits" do
   let(:female_trait) { stub("female trait", :name => :female) }
   let(:admin_trait)  { stub("admin trait", :name => :admin) }
 
   before do
     subject.define_trait(female_trait)
+    FactoryGirl.stubs(:trait_by_name => admin_trait)
   end
 
-  it "finds the correct trait if defined on the definition" do
-    subject.trait_by_name(:female).should == female_trait
+  its(:traits) { should be_empty }
+
+  it "finds the correct traits after inheriting" do
+    subject.inherit_traits([:female])
+    subject.traits.should == [female_trait]
   end
 
   it "looks for the trait on FactoryGirl" do
-    FactoryGirl.stubs(:trait_by_name => admin_trait)
-    subject.trait_by_name(:admin).should == admin_trait
-    FactoryGirl.should have_received(:trait_by_name).with(:admin)
+    subject.inherit_traits([:female, :admin])
+    subject.traits.should == [admin_trait, female_trait]
   end
 end