diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/DependencyInjection/Dumper/PhpDumper.php b/src/Symfony/Component/DependencyInjection/Dumper/PhpDumper.php
index cabcbcd657..de910517c8 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/DependencyInjection/Dumper/PhpDumper.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/DependencyInjection/Dumper/PhpDumper.php
@@ -1331,9 +1331,12 @@ EOF;
             if (null !== $this->definitionVariables && $this->definitionVariables->contains($value)) {
                 return $this->dumpValue($this->definitionVariables->offsetGet($value), $interpolate);
             }
-            if (count($value->getMethodCalls()) > 0) {
+            if ($value->getMethodCalls()) {
                 throw new RuntimeException('Cannot dump definitions which have method calls.');
             }
+            if ($value->getProperties()) {
+                throw new RuntimeException('Cannot dump definitions which have properties.');
+            }
             if (null !== $value->getConfigurator()) {
                 throw new RuntimeException('Cannot dump definitions which have a configurator.');
             }