diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/reflection.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/reflection.rb
index 72a05f12aa..496237a2f2 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/reflection.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/reflection.rb
@@ -397,7 +397,7 @@ def inverse_name
             if @automatic_inverse_of == false
               nil
             else
-              @automatic_inverse_of = automatic_inverse_of
+              @automatic_inverse_of ||= automatic_inverse_of
             end
           end
         end
@@ -419,6 +419,8 @@ def automatic_inverse_of
               inverse_name
             end
           end
+
+          false
         end
 
         # Checks if the inverse reflection that is returned from the