diff -r c095291d722e src/core/model/object-base.cc
--- a/src/core/model/object-base.cc	Tue Jul 16 07:34:15 2013 -0700
+++ b/src/core/model/object-base.cc	Tue Jul 16 12:28:03 2013 -0700
@@ -75,13 +75,29 @@
           struct TypeId::AttributeInformation info = tid.GetAttribute(i);
           NS_LOG_DEBUG ("try to construct \""<< tid.GetName ()<<"::"<<
                         info.name <<"\"");
+          // is this attribute stored in this AttributeConstructionList instance ?
+          Ptr<AttributeValue> value = attributes.Find(info.checker);
+          // See if this attribute should not be set here in the
+          // constructor.
           if (!(info.flags & TypeId::ATTR_CONSTRUCT))
             {
-              continue;
+              // Handle this attribute if it should not be 
+              // set here.
+              if (value == 0)
+                {
+                  // Skip this attribute if it's not in the
+                  // AttributeConstructionList.
+                  continue;
+                }              
+              else
+                {
+                  // This is an error because this attribute is not
+                  // settable in its constructor but is present in
+                  // the AttributeConstructionList.
+                  NS_FATAL_ERROR ("Attribute name="<<info.name<<" tid="<<tid.GetName () << ": initial value cannot be set using attributes");
+                }
             }
           bool found = false;
-          // is this attribute stored in this AttributeConstructionList instance ?
-          Ptr<AttributeValue> value = attributes.Find(info.checker);
           if (value != 0)
             {
               // We have a matching attribute value.