diff --git a/plone/dexterity/content.py b/plone/dexterity/content.py
index bdb1bda..cf1caf6 100644
--- a/plone/dexterity/content.py
+++ b/plone/dexterity/content.py
@@ -177,10 +177,15 @@ class DexterityContent(DAVResourceMixin, PortalContent, DefaultDublinCoreImpl, C
     description = u''
     
     def __getattr__(self, name):
-        
+        # optimization: sometimes we're asked for special attributes
+        # such as __conform__ that we can disregard (because we
+        # wouldn't be in here if the class had such an attribute
+        # defined).
+        if name.startswith('__'):
+            raise AttributeError(name)
+
         # attribute was not found; try to look it up in the schema and return
         # a default
-        
         schema = SCHEMA_CACHE.get(self.portal_type)
         if schema is not None:
             field = schema.get(name, None)