diff --git a/tests/serialize_001.phpt b/tests/serialize_001.phpt
index af06467..baec2f0 100644
--- a/tests/serialize_001.phpt
+++ b/tests/serialize_001.phpt
@@ -20,6 +20,18 @@ catch(\V8JsException $e) {
 
 $stored = 'O:8:"V8Object":0:{}';
 
+try {
+    $obj2 = unserialize($stored);
+}
+catch(\V8JsException $e) {
+    var_dump(get_class($e));
+    var_dump($e->getMessage());
+}
+
+var_dump(isset($obj2));
+
+$stored = 'O:8:"V8Object":1:{s:3:"foo";i:23;}';
+
 try {
     $obj = unserialize($stored);
 }
@@ -28,8 +40,7 @@ catch(\V8JsException $e) {
     var_dump($e->getMessage());
 }
 
-$v8->foo = $obj;
-
+var_dump(isset($obj3));
 
 ?>
 ===EOF===
@@ -42,4 +53,8 @@ string(13) "V8JsException"
 string(54) "You cannot serialize or unserialize V8Object instances"
 string(13) "V8JsException"
 string(54) "You cannot serialize or unserialize V8Object instances"
+bool(false)
+string(13) "V8JsException"
+string(54) "You cannot serialize or unserialize V8Object instances"
+bool(false)
 ===EOF===
diff --git a/tests/serialize_basic.phpt b/tests/serialize_basic.phpt
index bdd2520..0b14788 100644
--- a/tests/serialize_basic.phpt
+++ b/tests/serialize_basic.phpt
@@ -25,6 +25,16 @@ catch(\V8JsException $e) {
     var_dump($e->getMessage());
 }
 
+$stored = 'O:4:"V8Js":1:{s:3:"foo";i:23;}';
+
+try {
+    $b = unserialize($stored);
+}
+catch(\V8JsException $e) {
+    var_dump(get_class($e));
+    var_dump($e->getMessage());
+}
+
 ?>
 ===EOF===
 --EXPECT--
@@ -32,4 +42,6 @@ string(13) "V8JsException"
 string(50) "You cannot serialize or unserialize V8Js instances"
 string(13) "V8JsException"
 string(50) "You cannot serialize or unserialize V8Js instances"
+string(13) "V8JsException"
+string(50) "You cannot serialize or unserialize V8Js instances"
 ===EOF===
diff --git a/v8js.cc b/v8js.cc
index f754a89..e86a50e 100644
--- a/v8js.cc
+++ b/v8js.cc
@@ -385,12 +385,16 @@ static HashTable *php_v8js_v8_get_properties(zval *object TSRMLS_DC) /* {{{ */
 			/* the garbage collector is running, don't create more zvals */
 			return NULL;
 		}
-		if (obj->ctx == NULL) {
-			/* Half-constructed object.  Shouldn't happen, but be safe. */
-			return NULL;
-		}
+
 		ALLOC_HASHTABLE(obj->properties);
 		zend_hash_init(obj->properties, 0, NULL, ZVAL_PTR_DTOR, 0);
+
+		if (!obj->ctx) {
+			/* Half-constructed object, probably due to unserialize call.
+			 * Just pass back properties hash so unserialize can write to
+			 * it (instead of crashing the engine). */
+			return obj->properties;
+		}
 	} else {
 		zend_hash_clean(obj->properties);
 	}