diff --git a/akka-core/src/main/scala/actor/Actor.scala b/akka-core/src/main/scala/actor/Actor.scala
index 41f4c9c3a8..5ce7b14272 100644
--- a/akka-core/src/main/scala/actor/Actor.scala
+++ b/akka-core/src/main/scala/actor/Actor.scala
@@ -731,6 +731,8 @@ sealed class ActorRef private[akka] () extends TransactionManagement {
     } finally {
       link(actor)
     }
+    actor._selfOption = Some(this)
+    if (actor eq null) throw new ActorInitializationException("Actor instance passed to ActorRef can not be 'null'")
     actor
   }
 
@@ -747,7 +749,6 @@ sealed class ActorRef private[akka] () extends TransactionManagement {
     } finally {
       link(actor)
     }
-    actor
   }
 
   /**
@@ -1468,8 +1469,16 @@ object DispatcherType {
 }
 
 /**
- * For internal use only.
- * 
+ * Actor base trait that should be extended by or mixed to create an Actor with the semantics of the 'Actor Model':
+ * <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actor_model">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actor_model</a>
+ * <p/>
+ * An actor has a well-defined (non-cyclic) life-cycle.
+ * <pre>
+ * => NEW (newly created actor) - can't receive messages (yet)
+ *     => STARTED (when 'start' is invoked) - can receive messages
+ *         => SHUT DOWN (when 'exit' is invoked) - can't do anything
+ * </pre>
+ *
  * @author <a href="http://jonasboner.com">Jonas Bon&#233;r</a>
  */
 class ActorMessageInvoker private[akka] (val actorRef: ActorRef) extends MessageInvoker {
diff --git a/akka-core/src/main/scala/routing/Routers.scala b/akka-core/src/main/scala/routing/Routers.scala
index 66112a142f..a850b567e6 100644
--- a/akka-core/src/main/scala/routing/Routers.scala
+++ b/akka-core/src/main/scala/routing/Routers.scala
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ trait Dispatcher { this: Actor =>
 
   protected def dispatch: PartialFunction[Any, Unit] = {
     case a if routes.isDefinedAt(a) =>
-      if (self.replyTo.isDefined) routes(a) forward transform(a)
+      if (self.self.replyTo.isDefined) routes(a).forward(transform(a))(Some(self.self))
       else routes(a).!(transform(a))(None)
   }