diff --git a/lib/active_model/serializer.rb b/lib/active_model/serializer.rb
index f55bb840..f601a409 100644
--- a/lib/active_model/serializer.rb
+++ b/lib/active_model/serializer.rb
@@ -366,16 +366,16 @@ module ActiveModel
     # object without the root.
     def serializable_hash
       node = attributes
-
-      if _embed
-        _associations.each do |attr, klass|
-          include! attr, :node => node
-        end
-      end
-
+      include_associations!(node) if _embed
       node
     end
 
+    def include_associations!(node)
+      _associations.each do |attr, klass|
+        include! attr, :node => node
+      end
+    end
+
     def include!(name, options={})
       hash = options[:hash] || @options[:hash]
       node = options[:node]