diff --git a/rest_framework/fields.py b/rest_framework/fields.py
index 05daaab76..68b956822 100644
--- a/rest_framework/fields.py
+++ b/rest_framework/fields.py
@@ -301,6 +301,11 @@ class WritableField(Field):
         result.validators = self.validators[:]
         return result
 
+    def get_default_value(self):
+        if is_simple_callable(self.default):
+            return self.default()
+        return self.default
+
     def validate(self, value):
         if value in validators.EMPTY_VALUES and self.required:
             raise ValidationError(self.error_messages['required'])
@@ -349,10 +354,7 @@ class WritableField(Field):
         except KeyError:
             if self.default is not None and not self.partial:
                 # Note: partial updates shouldn't set defaults
-                if is_simple_callable(self.default):
-                    native = self.default()
-                else:
-                    native = self.default
+                native = self.get_default_value()
             else:
                 if self.required:
                     raise ValidationError(self.error_messages['required'])
diff --git a/rest_framework/relations.py b/rest_framework/relations.py
index 02185c2ff..626454aca 100644
--- a/rest_framework/relations.py
+++ b/rest_framework/relations.py
@@ -118,6 +118,13 @@ class RelatedField(WritableField):
 
     choices = property(_get_choices, _set_choices)
 
+    ### Default value handling
+
+    def get_default_value(self):
+        default = super(RelatedField, self).get_default_value()
+        return default or \
+            [] if self.many else None
+
     ### Regular serializer stuff...
 
     def field_to_native(self, obj, field_name):
@@ -166,7 +173,7 @@ class RelatedField(WritableField):
         except KeyError:
             if self.partial:
                 return
-            value = [] if self.many else None
+            value = self.get_default_value()
 
         if value in (None, '') and self.required:
             raise ValidationError(self.error_messages['required'])