diff --git a/pyNN/brian2/standardmodels/cells.py b/pyNN/brian2/standardmodels/cells.py
index 43427dc3..b5512cd0 100644
--- a/pyNN/brian2/standardmodels/cells.py
+++ b/pyNN/brian2/standardmodels/cells.py
@@ -332,15 +332,18 @@ def __init__(self, neuron, **post_synaptic_receptors):
         self.translations = deepcopy(neuron.translations)
         self.state_variable_translations = neuron.state_variable_translations
         self.post_synaptic_variables = {}
-        synaptic_current_equation = "i_syn ="
-        for psr_label, psr in post_synaptic_receptors.items():
-            self.eqs += psr.eqs(psr_label)
-            self.translations.update(psr.translations(psr_label))
-            self.state_variable_translations.update(psr.state_variable_translations(psr_label))
-            self.post_synaptic_variables.update({psr_label: psr.post_synaptic_variable(psr_label)})
-            synaptic_current_equation += f" {psr.synaptic_current(psr_label)} +"
-        synaptic_current_equation = synaptic_current_equation.strip("+")
-        synaptic_current_equation += "  : amp"
+        if post_synaptic_receptors:
+            synaptic_current_equation = "i_syn ="
+            for psr_label, psr in post_synaptic_receptors.items():
+                self.eqs += psr.eqs(psr_label)
+                self.translations.update(psr.translations(psr_label))
+                self.state_variable_translations.update(psr.state_variable_translations(psr_label))
+                self.post_synaptic_variables.update({psr_label: psr.post_synaptic_variable(psr_label)})
+                synaptic_current_equation += f" {psr.synaptic_current(psr_label)} +"
+            synaptic_current_equation = synaptic_current_equation.strip("+")
+            synaptic_current_equation += "  : amp"
+        else:
+            synaptic_current_equation = "i_syn = 0*amp : amp"
         self.eqs += brian2.Equations(synaptic_current_equation)
         self.brian2_model = neuron.brian2_model
 
diff --git a/pyNN/neuron/cells.py b/pyNN/neuron/cells.py
index 742e1d28..bd0ad98f 100644
--- a/pyNN/neuron/cells.py
+++ b/pyNN/neuron/cells.py
@@ -218,6 +218,7 @@ def __init__(self, tau_m=20, c_m=1.0, v_rest=-65,
 
         # process arguments
         self.parameters.update(v_thresh=v_thresh, t_refrac=t_refrac, v_reset=v_reset)
+        self.set_parameters()
 
     v_thresh = _new_property('spike_reset', 'vthresh')
     v_reset = _new_property('spike_reset', 'vreset')
@@ -252,7 +253,7 @@ def __init__(self, tau_m=20, c_m=1.0, v_rest=-65, v_thresh=-55, t_refrac=2,
         for name in ('v_thresh', 't_refrac', 'v_reset',
                      'A', 'B', 'tau_w', 'delta', 'v_spike'):
             self.parameters[name] = local_params[name]
-
+        self.set_parameters()
         self.w_init = None
 
     v_thresh = _new_property('adexp', 'vthresh')