diff --git a/docs/topics/2.3-announcement.md b/docs/topics/2.3-announcement.md
index e1bcde051..450955824 100644
--- a/docs/topics/2.3-announcement.md
+++ b/docs/topics/2.3-announcement.md
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ Note that the relevant methods have always been private APIs, and the docstrings
 
 ## Explict view attributes
 
-The usage of `model` attribute in generic Views is still supported, but it's usage is being discouraged in favour of using explict `queryset` and `serializer_class` attributes.
+The usage of `model` attribute in generic Views is still supported, but it's usage is being discouraged in favour of the more explict `queryset` attribute.
 
 For example, the following is now the recommended style for using generic views:
 
@@ -146,9 +146,9 @@ For example, the following is now the recommended style for using generic views:
         queryset = MyModel.objects.all()
         serializer_class = MyModelSerializer
 
-Using explict `queryset` and `serializer_class` attributes makes the functioning of the view more clear than using the shortcut `model` attribute.
+Using an explict `queryset` attribute makes the functioning of the view more clear than using the shortcut `model` attribute.
 
-It also makes it the usage of overridden `get_queryset()` or `get_serializer_class()` methods more obvious.
+It also makes the usage of an overridden `get_queryset()` method more obvious.
 
     class AccountListView(generics.RetrieveAPIView):
         serializer_class = MyModelSerializer
diff --git a/rest_framework/generics.py b/rest_framework/generics.py
index 0b8e4a157..3ea78b5d3 100644
--- a/rest_framework/generics.py
+++ b/rest_framework/generics.py
@@ -48,11 +48,10 @@ class GenericAPIView(views.APIView):
     # attribute, although using the explicit style is generally preferred.
     fields = None
 
-    # If the `model` shortcut is used instead of `serializer_class`, then the
-    # serializer class will be constructed using this class as the base.
+    # The following attributes may be subject to change,
+    # and should be considered private API.
     model_serializer_class = api_settings.DEFAULT_MODEL_SERIALIZER_CLASS
-
-    _paginator_class = Paginator
+    paginator_class = Paginator
 
     ######################################
     # These are pending deprecation...
@@ -115,8 +114,8 @@ class GenericAPIView(views.APIView):
             if not page_size:
                 return None
 
-        paginator = self._paginator_class(queryset, page_size,
-                                          allow_empty_first_page=self.allow_empty)
+        paginator = self.paginator_class(queryset, page_size,
+                                         allow_empty_first_page=self.allow_empty)
         page_kwarg = self.kwargs.get(self.page_kwarg)
         page_query_param = self.request.QUERY_PARAMS.get(self.page_kwarg)
         page = page_kwarg or page_query_param or 1
@@ -194,9 +193,15 @@ class GenericAPIView(views.APIView):
         if serializer_class is not None:
             return serializer_class
 
+        assert self.model is not None or self.queryset is not None, \
+            "'%s' should either include a 'serializer_class' attribute, " \
+            "or use the 'queryset' or 'model' attribute as a shortcut for " \
+            "automatically generating a serializer class." \
+            % self.__class__.__name__
+
         class DefaultSerializer(self.model_serializer_class):
             class Meta:
-                model = self.model
+                model = self.model or self.queryset.model
                 fields = self.fields
         return DefaultSerializer
 
diff --git a/rest_framework/tests/generics.py b/rest_framework/tests/generics.py
index 12c9b6778..63ff1fc32 100644
--- a/rest_framework/tests/generics.py
+++ b/rest_framework/tests/generics.py
@@ -350,11 +350,11 @@ class TestFieldsShortcut(TestCase):
     """
     def setUp(self):
         class OverriddenFieldsView(generics.RetrieveUpdateDestroyAPIView):
-            model = BasicModel
+            queryset = BasicModel.objects.all()
             fields = ('text',)
 
         class RegularView(generics.RetrieveUpdateDestroyAPIView):
-            model = BasicModel
+            queryset = BasicModel.objects.all()
 
         self.overridden_fields_view = OverriddenFieldsView()
         self.regular_view = RegularView()
@@ -362,10 +362,12 @@ class TestFieldsShortcut(TestCase):
     def test_overridden_fields_view(self):
         Serializer = self.overridden_fields_view.get_serializer_class()
         self.assertEqual(Serializer().fields.keys(), ['text'])
+        self.assertEqual(Serializer().opts.model, BasicModel)
 
     def test_not_overridden_fields_view(self):
         Serializer = self.regular_view.get_serializer_class()
         self.assertEqual(Serializer().fields.keys(), ['id', 'text'])
+        self.assertEqual(Serializer().opts.model, BasicModel)
 
 
 # Regression test for #285