diff --git a/openerp/addons/base/ir/ir_needaction.py b/openerp/addons/base/ir/ir_needaction.py
index ba3a5c4a998..db133ad9904 100644
--- a/openerp/addons/base/ir/ir_needaction.py
+++ b/openerp/addons/base/ir/ir_needaction.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 
 from osv import osv
 
-class ir_needaction_mixin(osv.Model):
+class ir_needaction_mixin(osv.AbstractModel):
     '''Mixin class for objects using the need action feature.
 
     Need action feature can be used by models that have to be able to
diff --git a/openerp/osv/orm.py b/openerp/osv/orm.py
index 650a9ac78c5..df12062f922 100644
--- a/openerp/osv/orm.py
+++ b/openerp/osv/orm.py
@@ -654,6 +654,7 @@ class BaseModel(object):
     may be set to False.
     """
     __metaclass__ = MetaModel
+    _auto = True # create database backend
     _register = False # Set to false if the model shouldn't be automatically discovered.
     _name = None
     _columns = {}
@@ -5076,6 +5077,7 @@ class Model(BaseModel):
     The system will later instantiate the class once per database (on
     which the class' module is installed).
     """
+    _auto = True
     _register = False # not visible in ORM registry, meant to be python-inherited only
     _transient = False # True in a TransientModel
 
@@ -5088,6 +5090,7 @@ class TransientModel(BaseModel):
        records they created. The super-user has unrestricted access
        to all TransientModel records.
     """
+    _auto = True
     _register = False # not visible in ORM registry, meant to be python-inherited only
     _transient = True