diff --git a/request.go b/request.go
index a7bb0b1..b2fa477 100644
--- a/request.go
+++ b/request.go
@@ -175,10 +175,6 @@ func unmarshalNode(data *Node, model reflect.Value, included *map[string]*Node)
 		}
 
 		if annotation == annotationPrimary {
-			if data.ID == "" {
-				continue
-			}
-
 			// Check the JSON API Type
 			if data.Type != args[1] {
 				er = fmt.Errorf(
@@ -189,6 +185,10 @@ func unmarshalNode(data *Node, model reflect.Value, included *map[string]*Node)
 				break
 			}
 
+			if data.ID == "" {
+				continue
+			}
+
 			// ID will have to be transmitted as astring per the JSON API spec
 			v := reflect.ValueOf(data.ID)
 
diff --git a/request_test.go b/request_test.go
index 3326598..daa2159 100644
--- a/request_test.go
+++ b/request_test.go
@@ -70,11 +70,20 @@ func TestUnmarshalToStructWithPointerAttr(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestUnmarshalPayload_missingTypeFieldShouldError(t *testing.T) {
+	if err := UnmarshalPayload(
+		strings.NewReader(`{"data":{"body":"hello world"}}`),
+		&Post{},
+	); err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Expected an error but did not get one")
+	}
+}
+
 func TestUnmarshalPayload_ptrsAllNil(t *testing.T) {
 	out := new(WithPointer)
 	if err := UnmarshalPayload(
-		strings.NewReader(`{"data": {}}`), out); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Error unmarshalling to Foo")
+		strings.NewReader(`{"data":{"type":"with-pointers"}}`), out); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Error unmarshalling to Foo: %v", err)
 	}
 
 	if out.ID != nil {