diff --git a/python-package/xgboost/core.py b/python-package/xgboost/core.py
index 30ab6125d..1e955d66c 100644
--- a/python-package/xgboost/core.py
+++ b/python-package/xgboost/core.py
@@ -351,6 +351,11 @@ class DMatrix(object):
         # force into void_p, mac need to pass things in as void_p
         if data is None:
             self.handle = None
+
+            if feature_names is not None:
+                self._feature_names = feature_names
+            if feature_types is not None:
+                self._feature_types = feature_types
             return
 
         data, feature_names, feature_types = _maybe_pandas_data(data,
@@ -739,7 +744,8 @@ class DMatrix(object):
         res : DMatrix
             A new DMatrix containing only selected indices.
         """
-        res = DMatrix(None, feature_names=self.feature_names)
+        res = DMatrix(None, feature_names=self.feature_names,
+                      feature_types=self.feature_types)
         res.handle = ctypes.c_void_p()
         _check_call(_LIB.XGDMatrixSliceDMatrix(self.handle,
                                                c_array(ctypes.c_int, rindex),
diff --git a/tests/python/test_basic.py b/tests/python/test_basic.py
index 77336dcff..11e28eeb2 100644
--- a/tests/python/test_basic.py
+++ b/tests/python/test_basic.py
@@ -118,6 +118,8 @@ class TestBasic(unittest.TestCase):
         dm.feature_names = list('abcde')
         assert dm.feature_names == list('abcde')
 
+        assert dm.slice([0, 1]).feature_names == dm.feature_names
+
         dm.feature_types = 'q'
         assert dm.feature_types == list('qqqqq')