diff --git a/tailbone/forms/core.py b/tailbone/forms/core.py
index 059b212a..b5020975 100644
--- a/tailbone/forms/core.py
+++ b/tailbone/forms/core.py
@@ -1380,7 +1380,11 @@ class Form(object):
                 return getattr(record, field_name)
             except AttributeError:
                 pass
-            return record[field_name]
+
+            try:
+                return record[field_name]
+            except TypeError:
+                pass
 
         # TODO: is this always safe to do?
         elif self.defaults and field_name in self.defaults: